ANALYSIS OF THE TYPE AND AMOUNT OF SOLID WASTE GENERATED AND ADOPTED DISPOSAL METHODS BY THE RESIDENTS OF BONGA TOWN

Abstract

BACK GROUND: In many parts of Ethiopia, there are many sanitation problems of which the most intractable is solid waste. Piles of Vegetables and other organic wastes appear around the streets, riverbanks, and market places, which will have contacts with human beings directly at several stages in the waste cycle. People living close to waste disposal facilities, waste workers, preschool children are the risk groups. The main objective of this study was to determine the type and amount of solid wastes generated and to assess the common disposal methods practiced by Bonga town residents. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted from January 20 to February 18/2002 to determine the type and amount of solid wastes generated on 130 sampled households ar Bonga town, Kaffa Zone. The study populations, 130 houses, were determined by sampling procedures from all the residential house of the town. Data was collected using structured questionnaire and registration format The study revealed that the common solid waste components were:-dust (28.0%), leaves and grasses (24.86%), tin cans and glasses (6.0%), ash (20.0%), food stuff peelings (9.43%), Char leaves (6.87%), and textiles (1.4%) by weight. The per capita and total amount of solid wastes generated were 0.35kg/day and 4671 kg/day respectively. Statistical correlation with some socio-demographic factors of the respondents to the generation rate of solid waste and to their disposal methods were done. Family size and per capita per significant relation (x-15.78,Df-8, P<0.05) but literacy status to on-site storage container users didn't show statistically significant correlation. Open dump outside and Inside the yard was common (64.6%), and the rest 23.8% and 11.5% were refuse pit and open burning respectively. There was no municipal service in the town and only 42.3% of the households used on-site storage containers, of those users 63.6% used sacks. DISCUSSION: The problems associated with solid waste management in today's society are complex because of the quantity adverse nature of solid wastes. Waste generation is an activity that is not very controllable and in the future, however, more control will be exercised. 64.6% of the households disposed their wastes using uncontrolled methods Ich as open dumping outside and inside their yards. But this method of disposing astes on the street, in drainage ditches, and at the back yard could lead to a variety of tronmental problems like breeding of rats and other animals which are carriers of ne pathogens by providing feeding stock and favorable environment. Ground and face water pollution can also be resulted from uncontrolled dumping of solid wastes.CONCLUSION: This study is the first to identify the type of solid waste components and the generation rate on daily basis in the town. Moreover, the data will be used as a baseline for further study.