Page 31 - AJWEP-22-4

Post-war solid waste management in Adigrat Ethiopia

Table 4. Satisfactory rating of the municipal solid
waste management

Satisfaction No. of Frequency Cumulative
level respondents (%) frequency (%)
Poor 40 24.24 24.24
Good 20 12.12 12.12
Satisfied 20 12.12 12.12
Unsatisfied 85 51.2 24.24
Total 165 100 100

Table 5. Consequences of the dispersed solid waste
management
Problems No. of Frequency Cumulative
respondents (%) frequency
(%)
Odor problem 80 48.5 48.5
Blockage of 30 18.2 18.2
drainage
Waste beside 20 12.12 12.12
the road
Diseases 35 22.21 22.21 Figure 3. Sample photo of solid waste dumped in
Total 165 100 100 open places

Table 6. Frequency of household solid waste significant relationship (p<0.001). The adjusted R² value
collection by the municipal authority was 0.513, indicating that age accounts for 51.3% of the
variation in perception (Figure 4).
Collection No. of Frequency Cumulative
period respondents (%) frequency (%) 4. Discussion
Daily 0 0 0
Weekly 5 3 3 The findings highlight systemic weaknesses in post-war
Monthly 40 24.24 24.24 solid SWM in Adigrat, reflecting broader challenges
Irregular 120 72.7 72.7 observed in war-affected urban environments. Rather
Total 165 100 100 than merely describing disruptions, the data points
to a breakdown in service continuity, infrastructure
maintenance, and institutional coordination. The
collection, with a margin of error of ±6.8% at a 95% observed waste generation rate (1.087 kg/hh/day) aligns
confidence level, suggests inconsistency in municipal with trends in other post-conflict cities, such as Misrata,
operations. Such unreliability undermines routine waste Libya, where household size and disrupted logistics
removal, increasing risks of illegal dumping and public contribute to increased waste output. This underscores
42
health hazards. The lack of daily or even regular weekly how war-related displacement and demographic shifts
service points to systemic inefficiencies and poor can intensify urban waste burdens.
logistical planning by municipal authorities. Beyond generation rates, the study exposes acute
deficiencies in waste handling practices. With over
3.6. Regression analysis: Age and perception of 80% of households resorting to open dumping or using
waste impacts drainage systems, the city faces escalating public health
A linear regression analysis was conducted to examine and environmental threats. These practices are not
the relationship between respondents’ age and their isolated. Similar behaviors have been reported in Kabul
perception of the health and environmental impacts of and Mosul, where conflict-induced governance voids
dispersed solid waste. The model revealed a statistically led to informal and hazardous waste disposal. 43,44 In

Volume 22 Issue 4 (2025) 23 doi: 10.36922/AJWEP025090061