Abstract:
Inappropriate solid waste dumping is causing a significant challenges for urban areas in urban areas of Ethiopia like Burayu Subcity, which lacks a proper landfill. This situation endangers public health and the environment. The main objective of this study was to identify suitable solid waste landfill sites in the Burayu subcity using the integration of geospatial technology. This study employed various data sources, including land use, land cover, slope, faults, power lines, rivers, roads, settlements, soil data, and water wells, sourced from the Space Science and Geospatial Institute and field surveys. A multi-criteria evaluation technique using Geographic Information Systems (GIS) assigned weightings to criteria based on their importance, integrating these weights to generate a suitability map through overlay analyses. The result showed that 6% (531ha), 7% (590 ha), 2% (204 ha), 5 % 411 ha) & 80% (675 ha) of the total study area was found to be highly suitable, suitable, moderately suitable, less suitable and un-suitable for solid waste landfill site, respectively. Four suitable landfill sites were identified, all meeting scientific and environmental criteria. The analysis indicated that the northern, northeastern, southern, and southwestern edges of Burayu Subcity are appropriate for sanitary landfills. Due to the lack of a well-chosen sanitary landfill in the sub city, the current solid waste disposal system used by the Burayu Subcity does not comply with environmental and scientific requirements. Therefore, the Burayu Subcity should chose the dump location based on a limited number of physical, social, economic, and spatial variables, according to this study
