Environmental and Health Impact of Solid Waste Disposal System in Addis Ababa City: a Case Study of Yeka Sub City
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Date
2018-12-04
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Addis Ababa University
Abstract
Waste is defined as eliminated or discarded unwanted or unusable material, substances, or by products produced by individuals, households or organizations. As a result waste is a complex mixture of different substances, only some of which are intrinsically hazardous to health and human activities have always generated waste. Increasing population levels, booming economy, rapid urbanization and the rise in community living standards have greatly accelerated the municipal solid waste generation rate in developing countries.
Objective: The aim of this study is to assess the environmental and health impact of solid waste management in Yeka sub city of Addis Ababa.
Methods: Community based cross sectional study design was employed. Data were collected using structured questionnaire on socio demographic, environmental and health impacts of solid waste management system of Yeka sub city. A total of 634 residents between age of 18 and 65 years were interviewed. FGD was conducted on two groups from two Weredas. Data were analyzed and presented using tables, charts and figures.
Results: The response rate was 99.2%. Among the residents, 82.5% perceived that their environment is dirty; 38.8% received information about waste management through media, followed by school (26.2%). About 90% of them used hands for waste management risking their health. Diarrhea and cough are the most prevalent diseases related to waste contamination. Assigning workers (67.1%), timely cleaning campaign (14.9%) and awareness creation trainings (12.6%)were measures employed from the sub city administration to alleviate the problem.
Conclusion: The environmental and health impacts of solid waste disposal system in Yeka sub city, Addis Ababa is high. Residents of the sub city have been suffering from related diseases due to poor solid waste management system. There is lack of awareness on how to store and dispose the solid waste produced at their households. Diarrhea and cough were the most prevalent. Support from the municipality on how to handle, store and dispose solid waste is not satisfactory. Expectation of the residents from the government was also high. iv
Recommendation: Yeka sub city administration, respective weredas sanitation offices and wereda health bureaus should be responsible for the alleviation of solid waste related problems of the sub city.
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Environment, Health Impact, Solid Waste, Urbanization