Assessment of Domestic Solid Waste Composition and Generation Rate, in Shambu Town, Oromia, Northwest Ethiopia
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Date
2018-08-08
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Addis Ababa University
Abstract
Improper household solid waste management has becoming a major environmental and public health problem in Shambu town as other towns of Ethiopia. The town has been experiencing very poor domestic solid waste management system, due to the absence of proper household solid waste collection and transfer services, absence of communal dumping containers and in-sufficient and inappropriate placement of landfill sites. Despite all the problems, there was no study conducted so far. This study is thus conducted to fill the existing gap. The study was conducted at Shambu town, Horo Guduru Wollega zone, Oromia Regional State, West Ethiopia, from March 10, 2018 to April 10, 2018. Systematic random sampling technique was used to select 80 households that are estimated to represent residents with different socio economic levels. This study was aimed to assess the quantity, composition and generation rate of domestic solid waste of the study area. The daily solid waste generated from those sampled households of the study site were collected and sorted in to its component. The weight of each component was recorded for seven consecutive days to determine the quantity, composition and generation rate of each household. Data analysis was made by using averages, percentages and ratios. Results of this study showed that on average a household generates 0.148Kg/cap/day. By taking the total population of the study area in to account, the annual household solid waste generation rate of the town was estimated to be 4296.05 tons. As field survey analysis illustrates; in this study area there is improper domestic solid waste management systems. The residents dispose domestic solid wastes along the road side, on open areas, near the residential sites, around burial sites, within plantation sites, etc… The Municipality office and authorities responsible for waste management of the town are very poorly equipped materially, financially and in terms of human resources to provide the expected services appropriately. This study recommends that the Municipality office and authorities responsible for waste management have to take considerable measures to alleviate the problem of waste management by allocating enough budget on the sanitation of the town, by giving regular campaign, education, and training programs at grass root level to create public awareness on waste management and by discussing with other levels of government and NGOs for sustainable improvement of waste management.
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Keywords
Shambu Town, Municipal Solid Waste, Waste Composition, Generation Rate, Cross-Sectional Study