HOUSEHOLD SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT PRACTICES AND CHALLENGES: THE CASE OF MELKA RAFU TOWN, KOMBOLCHA WOREDA, EAST HARARGHE ZONE, OROMIA REGION, ETHIOPIA.

Abstract

The ever increasing amount of solid waste generated which is exacerbated by lack of proper waste management system is the concern of countries in the world due to its social, economic and environmental implications. Melka rafu is one of the town by which proper provision of household solid waste management practice is still unsatisfactory and incomplete. In Melka rafu, illegal dumping of waste on open areas, street, ditches and river courses is considered as routine task residents. The efforts made by the municipality to change the situation in the town are also insufficient as it compared to the extent of the problem. This study aimed at assessment of practices and challenges of household solid waste management at Melka Rafu Town. Consequently, To accomplish the objectives descriptive type of research method was used and both primary and secondary data sources applied for the study. Descriptive research design was used. The primary data were collected via questionnaires, interview, focus group discussion and field observations. Whereas the secondary data were extracted from different published and unpublished materials. The analysis of the study was carried out using descriptive. A total of 231 respondents were used in the study. The sample size for this study is determined by using the formula developed by Cochran in terms of their convenience and simplicity to determine the number of respondents. The total household in the town is 4000 and this considered as the populations of the study which sample size drown and based on this. There are a total of 9 ketenas in the town and random sampling technique was used to select ketene from each kebelles. Both qualitative and quantitative methods were used to analyze the data. The findings of the study revealed that the main types of HSW in Melka Rafu Town are food wastes, ash, plastic, paper and cardboard, garden trimmings or leaf. They are of composed of both biodegradable and non-degradable components. The current HSWM practice of the town is weak and also there is a problem on solid waste reduction. Residents of Melka rafu town used a different types of storage materials in their compound which is bamboo basket and sacks of local name of “ madabera”,plastic containers local name’ festal. Only solid wastes that are sold to qurales” exchangeable to “liwach” are separated. Most households who do not use the services of private wastes collectors often prefer to dispose their wastes in unauthorized (illegal) places at the time of early night and early morning. The solid waste generation rate of the town was estimated to 37