Page 26 - AJWEP-22-4

Asian Journal of Water, Environment and Pollution. Vol. 22, No. 4 (2025), pp. 18-27.
doi: 10.36922/AJWEP025090061

ORIGINAL RESEARCH ARTICLE

Post-war solid waste management in Adigrat, Ethiopia

Fikre Belay Tekulu * and Zubairul Islam 2
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1 Department of Geography and Environmental Studies, College of Social Sciences and Humanities, Adigrat University,
Adigrat, Tigray, Ethiopia
2 Department of Management, Business and Economics, University of Abuja, Abuja, Nigeria
*Corresponding author: Fikre Belay Tekulu (fikre.belay@adu.edu.et)

Received: February 28, 2025; 1st revised: March 6, 2025; 2nd revised: May 24, 2025;
3rd revised: May 31, 2025; Accepted: June 9, 2025; Published online: June 30, 2025

Abstract: Waste is a general term used to describe materials or products considered largely worthless. This study
assesses the current post-war state of solid waste management in the city of Adigrat, Ethiopia. It aims to evaluate
household waste generation patterns, disposal practices, and community perceptions toward municipal waste
services, identifying gaps and proposing strategies for sustainable recovery. A total of 165 households were chosen
randomly from the target demographic using a mixed-method research strategy that combined quantitative surveys
and qualitative interviews for comprehensive insight. The study found that the average solid waste generation rate
among the 165 randomly selected households was 1.087 kg/household/day. Most respondents (81.8%) disposed
of their waste in open areas or drainage systems, and 51.2% expressed dissatisfaction with municipal solid waste
collection. These practices have significant implications for public health, urban hygiene, and environmental
sustainability. To rebuild the system, governments, non-governmental organizations, and concerned citizens should
cooperate through coordinated planning and resource mobilization.

Keywords: Solid waste; Post-war; Households; Adigrat

1. Introduction unsafe and unhygienic conditions, compounding health
hazards.
Waste refers to materials or products discarded as Solid waste management (SWM) is a critical public
unwanted or valueless by their owners, regardless of service that municipalities provide to maintain urban
potential use to others. Solid waste, which consists cleanliness. Effective SWM systems not only improve
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of non-liquid waste resulting from human activities, environmental quality but also contribute to public
has always existed but has become increasingly health, urban esthetics, and economic productivity.
problematic due to urbanization and industrialization. However, cities in developing and post-conflict contexts
2,3
Improper disposal – such as open dumping and often face compounded challenges. In Libya’s Misrata,
burning – poses serious environmental and health risks inefficient municipal systems have led to uncontrolled
globally. These risks are intensified in urban settings waste disposal, creating unsanitary conditions. In Kabul,
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where population densities and consumption levels are inadequate funding, governance, and infrastructure
high, often overwhelming the capacity of local waste undermine effective SWM. Similarly, municipal
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management systems. Moreover, the informal sector, authorities in many cities struggle with growing waste
while contributing to waste recovery, often operates in volumes and high management costs, lacking knowledge

Volume 22 Issue 4 (2025) 18 doi: 10.36922/AJWEP025090061