DETERMINANT OF HOUSEHOLD SOLID WASTE GENERATION: A CASE IN GONDAR TOWN

Abstract

The poor handling and implementation of solid waste management practices is still growing problem in developing countries. Gondar town, Ethiopia, has poor solid waste management. The major objectives of this study are to assess the determinant factor that affects household’s solid waste generation. So as to achieve the expected objectives, data were collected from data sources questionnaire, field measurement and personal observation. The secondary data were collected from document analysis. The relevant data from both sources gathered through probability and non-probability sampling techniques. Samples have been randomly selected from various households and analyzed for the solid waste generation rate per capita. Questionnaire survey has been carried out to collect data from inhabitants including solid waste collection frequency, access to communal bins for primary collection, waste reuse and recycling. Information on waste management was obtained from 120households in Gondar town.The households surveyed were categorized in to low, medium and high income groups. The analysis was conducted using both qualitative and quantitative techniques. The finding of this study indicated that low, middle and higher income households averagely generate 0.2kg/cap/day, 0.242kg/cap/day and 0.295kg/cap/day respectively. The total households waste generation rate of Gondar town is 0.232kg/cap/day. This made the daily total solid waste generation of households to 9,744kg and from this total generation of solid waste 69% is uncollected and disposed an illegal site of the town. Whereas only 31% were collected properly As a result, it is recommended that all concerned stakeholders should give focus on basic components of solid waste management practices to manage an illegal disposing system in the town. The municipality has provided an adequate place for common municipal container and setup micro and small enterprise solid waste collector, prepare and implement rules and regulation which emphasized on the issue SWM, develop efficient controlling mechanism and environmental sanitation agents to prevent illegal solid waste disposal.