With increasing technology, better infrastructure, improved standards of living and education, increased consumerism, rural human societies live better and their numbers gradually increase. This increases the stress on the environment as more solid and hazardous waste materials are generated and disposed. The study focused on 266 households located in central Kenya. Interviews and a questionnaire were used to understand the types of solid and hazardous waste generated by households and how the material was disposed. Organic waste, once the main component of solid waste material generated in rural households was found to only comprise one-third of the total (34%); while industry contributed a lion’s share (57%) of the total waste generated for this community. Some strategies including focused education opportunities on better rural solid and hazardous waste handling techniques, and promotion of informal entrepreneurship are suggested.
