Role of Ethiopian Industrial Parks in Safeguarding the Environment

Abstract

This study explores the role of Ethiopia's industrial parks in enhancing environmental stewardship, with a focus on the adoption of sustainable practices in line with United Nations Industrial Development Organizations performance framework. Using cross-sectional study design, primary data was collected from randomly selected 395 managerial and technical employees in both private and public industrial parks (IPs). The research utilized binary logistic regression model to assess the role of IPs in environmental safeguarding. It emphasizes the importance of environmentally suitable site selection, developing green infrastructure, segregated recycling reception bins and containers for recyclable and non-recyclable byproducts in industrial parks. Moreover, efficient and clean production methods, effective emission, and waste management strategies in IPs significantly enhance environmental safeguarding. The study also reflects on off-site landfills for managing solid waste in industrial parks, as well as not installing solar street lighting throughout the IPs, problem related to collecting, storing, and treating, toxic and hazardous waste, conducting annual environmental audit on each company, making sure operators have International Sustainability and Carbon Certification, and availing efficient solid waste collection service are the major problems to protection and safeguarding environment. Therefore, the study recommends continuous monitoring and evaluation of the implementation of environmental rules and regulations on sustainable basis to ensure their effectiveness and relevance in the ever-evolving industrial landscape. More importantly, the study suggests the need for implementing mitigation measures concerning the generation of industrial hazardous wastes and the reduction of health hazards through waste minimization, waste recovery and reuse, and waste treatment and disposal.