Sustainable Waste Management in Kombolcha

  • Mesfin Feleke, Dr. Alemayehu Balcha, Gezahegh Fele
  • Comments

Sustainable urban waste management: A community-based approach to involve all town inhabitants of Kombolcha town for a cleaner future

The city of Kombolcha in Ethiopia is facing a critical urban waste challenge due to several factors. Rapid population growth and the presence of budget limitations are the major among the list. As a town having more than 345 factory and small industries, there is a huge influx of young unemployed citizens to the town in search for job. In addition to the normal population growth this movement of youngsters produce uncontrolled rise in the number of inhabitants in the town. One of the major challenges faced as a result is the production of huge amount of waste in the town resulting in uncontrolled consequences. The town government is working at its maximum capacity to change such unbelievable chaos. Even if sanitation is the top most list in town’s agenda, the ever uncontrolled rise in the number of inhabitants and budget limitation, the waste management activity runs out of the control of the town’s management.

In recent assessment we realized that there is 144 m3/day production of waste in the town. The 11.02% allocated budget from the required budget for waste management by the town’s administration resulted in the accumulation of waste in every corner of the town. Infection related to uncontrolled waste as a consequence is becoming another challenge to the town’s inhabitants besides food insecurity. This challenge is affecting most importantly the most vulnerable member of the town’s community, children and women. Respiratory and other waste contamination related health problems are headaches for the town’s community as a result.

Because of the Administrivia’s recognized capacity of not handling this critical problem we designed this project to solve the problem from community participation perspective by using the moto “If every inhabitant handles his own waste our town will be clean”. The project aims to involve the entire population of Komblacha in the implementation of efficient waste management. This includes identifying waste sources, training community representatives, engaging unemployed youth and empowering women as key actors in waste management processes.

Comments

  • Abera Assefa

    07.09.2023

    Dears,
    Thank you so much for giving me this chance.

    I am highly appreciate and share concerns that Mesfin Mitiku and his colleagues raised on Kombolcha city solid and liquid waste problem and it's management. I strongly believe on that Mr. Mesfin and his colleagues have a potential to solve the problems that we face in Kombolcha.

    I thank and appreciate in advance for any kind of help that will be given for Mr Mesfin's team.


    With regards

  • Zeleke Belay Admasu

    04.09.2023

    Yes, I agree with the idea and concept of Mr. Seifu's intention and motivation to solve the concern waste management. I'm happy to recommend him to take the initiative.

  • Brook Abate

    30.08.2023

    In general, solid and liquid waste management is a key problem in Ethiopia. As one of the industrious towns of the country, Kombolcha town has a peculiar industrial waste. Hazardous wastes could be generated and damped in dwelling areas of such industrious towns which need special attention from communities health perspective. The authors have generated such a compelling idea of designing a sustainable waste management system for the town in collaboration with the town's administration. The limitation of budget will definitely be a hinderance for the sustainable waste management in the town until the system is well established to the ground. Hence, this is to support the team in the competition and wish them success in all endeavors.

* mandatory field