Abstract:
Improper solid waste management in urban and semi-urban cities in developing countries is the
source of environmental pollution and public health concerns. This study aimed to assess the
households’ knowledge, attitudes, and practices of solid waste management in Seyo town using
a community-based cross-sectional study design based on 95 sample households selected using
systematic random sampling techniques. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire
and analyzed using SPSS. Bivariate and multivariate analyses were used to predict improper
solid waste management practices. Generally, most households had correct knowledge and
positive attitudes towards SWM, but poor practice was observed in the study area. About 90.5%
of the households considered solid waste a source of environmental pollution and close to 84%
replied that solid waste can be used for compost preparation. The majority (47.4%) of the
households “strongly agreed” about the potential risk associated with improper solid waste
disposal and nearly 50.5% of them also “strongly agreed” that proper SWM is crucial to
creating a healthy environment in the community. Nearly 71.6% had practiced improper SWM.
Logistic regression analyses indicated that lack of experience in sorting solid waste, ways of
removal, knowledge about reduce, reuse, and recycle, absence of adequate solid waste landfills,
and lack of door-to-door waste collection services were the major contributing factors to the
improper SWM practice in the town. In conclusion, the majority of the households had
practiced improper SWM, such as disposing of solid waste in the backyard, along the roadsides,
in gullies, and burning. These malpractices can significantly affect the environment and the
public health of the residents.
