Municipal Solid Waste Management and Characterization in Aksum and Shire-Endaslassie Towns, North Ethiopia

Abstract

The municipal solid waste (MSW), generated from different activities in the township and city areas is a subject of deep concern for its proper management. The improper management of the MSW is a major cause for water, air and soil pollution. Despite some progress, municipal solid waste (MSW) still poses pressure on Aksum and Shire Endaslassie towns and remains one of the major challenges in environmental management. This study mainly focuses on the technical and regulatory arrangements and characterization of municipal solid waste in both Aksum and Shire Endaslassie towns to identify strategies to improve the present situation. The data for the study was collected through measurement, direct observation and by preparing questionnaires and through discussion together with the experts. The solid waste generation rate (GR), uncompacted density, and weight percentages of combustible and incombustible materials were determined based on the collected data. The results show that the average GR and uncompacted density were 0.54 and 0.49 kg/capital/day and 362.5kg/m³ and 355kg/m³ for Aksum and Shire Endaslassie town respectively. The composition of the waste generated in Axum town is dominated by food wastes, grasses and leaf characterized as ‘decomposable’ (36%) followed by plastic (21%), Ashes (17%) and Paper and cardboard contributed 8%. In the same manner the composition of the waste generated in Shire Endaslassie is predominantly food wastes, grasses and leaf characterized as ‘decomposable’ (43%) followed by Ashes and dusts (21%), plastics (8%), and Paper and cardboard contributed 7%. The remaining waste, including metals, glass, rubber/leather, textiles, and others accounted for less than 18% and 21% for both Axum and Shire Endaslassie towns respectively. The analysis also indicated that solid waste management capacity for both cases was under stress due to different reasons. Currently, the overall technical arrangement, including storage and discharge, collection and transport, and disposal, is still in poor condition, which leads to environmental and health risks. Finally, it is recommended that these problems should be solved in an integrated manner by improving legislation, environmental education and solid waste management facilities so as to reduce the risk on environmental and public health.

Keywords: Solid waste, characterization, generation rate, disposal, solid waste management