Title: Indiscriminate disposal of waste challenges and implication for urban flooding and property values in emerging cities

Authors: Peres Ofori

Addresses: Simon Diedon Dombo University of Business and Integrated Development Studies – SDD-UBIDS P.O. Box WA64 Wa, Upper West Region, Ghana

Abstract: The study examined the indiscriminate disposal of waste in Ghana relative to the flooding and devaluation of properties in urban Kumasi and Tamale. Adopting the waste management theory coupled with survey design, the study investigated the types of waste produced in these cities. Using SPSS, the regression was utilised to analyse the relationship between proximity to flooding and flood prone areas and residential rental values. In both Kumasi and Tamale no tenant was willing to pay higher rent for a house located at a flooding or flood prone area irrespective of the architectural designs. An R of 0.54 and a P value 0.0000 at 0.5 significant levels indicating a fairly strong relationship between the two variables tested. The study found it dangerous for an emerging city like Ghana to have higher percentage (82%) of households practicing open dumping as the favourite method of waste disposal and treatment.

Keywords: approach; disaster; flooding; rent; reuse; waste management.

DOI: 10.1504/IJEWM.2025.146388

International Journal of Environment and Waste Management, 2025 Vol.37 No.1, pp.88 - 133

Received: 12 May 2022
Accepted: 22 May 2023
Published online: 28 May 2025 *

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