Getachew, BelayHailu, TesfayeAdugna, Tsion2019-04-102023-11-082019-04-102023-11-082019-01http://etd.aau.edu.et/handle/123456789/17793Open spaces near communal housing areas are among one of the urban agricultural components for the urban environment, but the soil in these open spaces has been affected by different types of waste. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the potential of organic solid waste (OSW) on the households to restore the disturbed soil, contribute to urban agriculture and provide recommendations to prevent environmental pollution caused by OSW. Like many developing countries, Addis Ababa generates a significant amount of OSW with substantial contributions from households. The generated OSW, which is being sent to the landfill sites have been burning the ground, unpleasant odors, environmental pollution, groundwater pollution, vegetation damage, affect biodiversity (Justyna & Pitchayan, 2016). Condominium housing in Addis Ababa consists a large number of households (depend on the design starting from G+2 -G+12) with small plots that tend to generate a large amount of OSW. The “Basha Wolde-Chilot” condominium site that is chosen for this thesis for the reason that it contains three types of Solid Waste Management (SWM) system (vertical trash Shute , free stand metal garbage, and Trash bag(madabria) at their home), condominiums that are the same typology, manageable block number, and near to the Riverside. The survey was applied to ten building that is determined by Taro Yamane’s sampling method. Before the survey, the researcher provided colored trash bags (“madaberia”) for residents in organic,plastic and other types waste categories followed by an awareness session on waste separation. Afterward, the researcher conducted a field investigation, on-site waste characterization and measured the waste at the block in two different collection days. According to “Basha Wolde-Chilot” waste characterization, the average waste consists of 84.1% organic, 3.4 % plastic and 12.5% other materials. From this figure, the most substantial amount is organic solid waste that could be recycled and generate compost. The“Basha Wolde-Chilot” site generates 87,048 kg of organic solid waste every year and send it to the landfill that contributes to the pollution of the environment quality deterioration, worsening of groundwater quality, poor air quality from emitted gases and noxious odors, and worsening climate change impact. From this figure, we can understand that by failing to process waste, the site loses 10,881 kg compost every year. But this 10,881kg compost has the potential of restoring the disturbed soil and providing fertilizer for 28,307m2 vegetation production,5,348m2 for attractive, aromatic and medicinal plant and for than 200 tree and shrubs for the “Basha Wolde-Chilot” condominium site community. In conclusion, if the organic solid waste gets separated at the source (providing garbage Shute), recycled, composted and merge to the condominiums green space, it will provide significant input for the environment as well as for the residents. The application of compost may vary according to the users needenHousehold organic solid wastecompostsoil fertilityurban agricultureThesis