Assessment of Environmental Sustainability of Solid Waste Collection and Transport Service of Micro and Small Enterprises, the Case of Bahir -Dar city, Ethiopia

Abstract

Until recent years in Ethiopia, solid waste management (SWM) services were majorly the responsibilities of the municipalities, which resulted in inadequate service provision. Bahir Dar is among the major cities located at north-western Ethiopia in which the city primarily starts solid waste collection service by organizing Micro and Small Enterprises (MSEs). The focus of this study is hence to explore the environmental sustainability of solid waste collection and transport services by MSEs in Bahir Dar. The study assessed the environmental sustainability of waste collection and transport services of MSEs using indicators based on sustainable or integrated solid waste management frame work. Based on the assessment, the service is constrained by several factors and not environmentally sound or sustainable. This is because, absence of environmental policy, no waste separation at source which impacts reuse and recycling, waste is not timely collected and transported which can create favourable conditions for the breeding of microorganism’s and pollution. The waste storage materials are not water proof and closed (rather exposed to rain and sun) which has resulted in bad odour and affects workers health. Moreover, since the waste transport vehicles are of a general purpose type, they are not convenient for loading and very risky for the health of MSEs workers and highly impedes the waste collection service. The collected waste is not safely disposed in the final dumping site which is not well protected; has no fence   or any sound management options like regular compaction and sanitary land fill.

Keywords: Sustainable solid waste management, Microenterprises (MSEs), solid waste