HOUSEHOLD-LEVEL DETERMINANTS OF SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT PRACTICE: A CASE OF DEBRE MARKOS TOWN HOUSEHOLD-LEVEL DETERMINANTS OF SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT PRACTICE: A CASE OF DEBRE MARKOS TOWN HOUSEHOLD-LEVEL DETERMINANTS OF SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT PRACTICE: A CASE OF DEBRE MARKOS TOWN

Abstract

Household solid waste management has become problematic in urban areas especially in developing countries like Ethiopia due to increased waste generation and lack of awareness. Due to this households are dumping of wastes in unauthorized sites, which easily expose to harsh hazards, like environmental pollution and health problem. Therefore, the overall objective of the study is to analyze perception and household level determinants of legal solid waste management practice in Debre Markos town. The data were collected from 201 households, which were selected through multi-stage sampling from seven ‘kebells’. Descriptive statistics and inferential statistics tools such as two-sample t test, Pearson chi-square and correlation were used to know the relationship between variables. Logistic regression and tobit model were also used to identify factors that determine the effectiveness of legal solid waste management at household level in the study area. The descriptive findings show that plastic, paper and ash constitute the major waste bulk generated by the households. In addition, there is a positive link between household’s income and waste generation. Though all households have temporary storage in their home, they did not store wastes separately based on its nature. Disposed off solid wastes in unauthorized sites by the households is highly practiced in Debre Markos. The empirical analyses, using the logistic regression model, shows that, household head age, household head sex, household head marital status, household head educational level, household’s income, distance of residents they walk from the main road or center, household’s awareness on solid waste management and housing arrangement (possession of house) are the major determinants of legal household solid waste management practice in the study area.