Abstract:
The main purpose of this study was to assess the solid waste management practice of Arada sub city, for accomplishing this purpose; the study used descriptive and explanatory research design. In addition, the study also employed both purposive and random sampling techniques. Moreover, in conducting the study, the researcher employed major data collection instruments like questionnaires, interviews, FGD, Field observation and analysis of other relevant documents. Then the quantitative data collected through questionnaires were descriptively presented in the form of frequency and percentages on the table, chart and bar-graph by using a software package called SPSS. The qualitative data were narrated and then aligned with the quantitative data in a way that the two data would support each other. The findings show that there is inadequate solid waste collection coverage in the study area. The Sub-city’s solid waste collectors are not well organized and do not have adequate capacity to cover the whole areas of the woredas. The existing containers in the sub-city are not sufficient to adequately serve the population with its increased waste generation. As a result, it was placed more than 3000 meters far from the resident or it is was poorly designated and inaccessible to the beneficiary. Not only existing containers was reflect weak law enforcement However the standard of placed the containers must be not more than 100-200m apart from the beneficiary. The solid waste container was not adequate in size, overflowing and not emptied on time, consequently, its bad odor disturbing when people pass through it. The current study also revealed that, the solid waste disposal practices of most households were poor and unregulated. Because, there are no concerted campaign efforts given from sub city’s administration to raise the awareness of the community in the areas of waste reduction strategies: segregation at source, recycling, reuse and composting. Moreover, the findings of the study depicts that, various factors such as lack of trained personnel, less involvement and participation of stakeholders, lack of adequate waste management equipment, poor cooperation among the stakeholders, lack of proper institutional set-up for solid waste management and lack of community participation are the main challenges of effective Solid waste management in Arada sub city. Thus, researcher recommends that, Arada sub city administration should strengthened the HHs awareness, give adequate emphasis for solid waste management and facilitate the proper institutional setup and improve the involvements of several institutions like SWMO, MSWM and integrated solid waste management programs for urban beautification
