An Assessment of Solid Waste Management Practices at Household Level in Fitche Town
Abstract
An Assessment of Solid Waste Management Practices at Household Level in Fitche Town,
North Shoa Zone, Oromia National Regional State, Ethiopia.
Abstract
Poor solid waste management practice is a major environmental issue in developing countries like
Ethiopia. This study aimed at assessing solid waste management practices in Fitche Town. Due to
rapidly increasing urbanization and population, the rate of generation of solid waste in Fitche
Town is also increased. Probability and non-probability sampling techniques, questionnaire,
interview, observations and descriptive research design were used. Primary and secondary data
were collected, processed, analysed and interpreted in qualitative and quantitative methods. The
study discovered that there was low performance of solid waste management in the town mainly
due to poor households’ solid waste management practices resulting from the use of unreliable
solid waste storage materials, there was low level of solid waste separation (41%) and recovery
activities (there was no reuse solid waste, for instance), only 7.8% undertake composting;
unauthorized solid waste dumping (64.5%); negative perception against solid waste management
workers, and externalizing their responsibilities. It was also found out that there were poor
institutional capacity and coordination to fulfil equipment and manpower, lack of properly
designed collection system and time schedule, less awareness creation among the society, absence
of formulating and enforcing the implication of rules and regulations in the town. It was
recommended that there have to an execution of sustainable solid waste management (reuse,
composting and recycling) through awareness creation and training the localcommunity,
improvement of institutional capacity and structure, and implementation of integrated solid waste
management approach, which comprises all stakeholders.
Key words: Fiche Town, Solid Waste, Waste, Waste Management
