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Municipal solid waste management in Dessie City, Ethiopia

Hardeep Rai Sharma (Institute of Environmental Studies, Kurukshetra University, Kurukshetra, India)
Bikes Destaw (Department of Environmental and Occupational Health and Safety, University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia)
Tigabu Negash (Department of Environmental and Occupational Health and Safety, University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia)
Leulesged Negussie (Department of Environmental and Occupational Health and Safety, University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia)
Yemer Endris (Department of Environmental and Occupational Health and Safety, University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia)
Gebrie Meserte (Department of Environmental and Occupational Health and Safety, University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia)
Berhanu Fentaw (Department of Environmental and Occupational Health and Safety, University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia)
Ahmed Ibrahime (Department of Environmental and Occupational Health and Safety, University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia)

Management of Environmental Quality

ISSN: 1477-7835

Article publication date: 22 February 2013

2149

Abstract

Purpose

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Purpose of this paper is to assess the municipal solid waste management (MSWM) system and resident practices towards municipal wastes in Dessie city of Ethiopia.

Design/methodology/approach

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A cross‐sectional study was conducted in 2008 and the data were generated by using self‐administered questionnaire and personnel observations using checklists. MSW generation and composition at household level was calculated by sorting and weighing the wastes from ten houses consecutively for seven days.

Findings

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The study revealed that Dessie municipality is mainly responsible for collection, transport and disposal of the wastes. Solid wastes generation rate at household level was found to be 0.45 kg/capita/day, having a high percentage of ash and food products. In total, 97 percent of respondents had knowledge about wastes and its management; however, the majority of them (73 per cent) believed that females are responsible for wastes management at household level. About half of the respondents (48 per cent) disposed their wastes near roadsides and vacant areas, in open sewers, bank of rivers and around bushes. Most of the respondents were not satisfied with the present service and 79 per cent of them were willing to pay service charges if there is house‐to‐house (primary) collection initiation by the local authority.

Research limitations/implications

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Due to unavailability of laboratory equipment, moisture content and chemical composition was not analyzed for the collected wastes.

Practical implications

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Enforcement of existing laws, composting and sanitary land filing can be feasible, useful and effective in the present situation in dealing with MSW problem.

Originality/value

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The work identifies the gaps in the present MSWM system of Dessie City.

Keywords

Citation

Rai Sharma, H., Destaw, B., Negash, T., Negussie, L., Endris, Y., Meserte, G., Fentaw, B. and Ibrahime, A. (2013), "Municipal solid waste management in Dessie City, Ethiopia", Management of Environmental Quality, Vol. 24 No. 2, pp. 154-164. https://doi.org/10.1108/14777831311303056

Publisher

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Emerald Group Publishing Limited

Copyright © 2013, Emerald Group Publishing Limited

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