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Characterization of solid wastes in higher education institutions: the case of Kotebe Metropolitan University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

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Abstract

The issue of Integrated Solid Waste Management is not limited to campus sustainability, but it is primarily a concern of public health and aesthetic impression to Higher Education Institutions in Ethiopia and elsewhere. To manage such wastes in an integrated approach, characterization of waste is a critical step. Knowledge of the sources and types of solid wastes, along with data on the composition and generation rate, is basic to the design and operation of the later management. In that regard, this study attempts to determine the composition and generation rate of solid waste in Higher Education Institutions. To do that, a standard sorting sheet and methods from related published sources have been applied. Accordingly, the major components of the waste in the university are food (84.41%), other organic (8.99%), paper (3.65%), plastic (1.83%), and the rest accounted 1.12%. The corrected solid waste generation rate is 0.093 kg/capita/day. The major sources of generation were the students’ canteen, the duplication center, laboratories, offices and the general workshop. The solid waste generation and composition studied in two phases did not show a significant difference between seasons (p value > 0.05, on a 5% significance level), while over 93% of the waste generated is compostable. Therefore, the university and other Higher Education Institutions can target a minimal waste policy and stable management plan toward sustainability.

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Acknowledgements

The authors are grateful to Kotebe Metropolitan University for the general support and people who participated in sorting the solid wastes.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Urban Environmental Management, Kotebe Metropolitan University, Addis Ababa, 31248, Ethiopia

    G. D. Gebreeyessus & D. Berihun

  2. Department of Chemistry, Kotebe Metropolitan University, Addis Ababa, 31248, Ethiopia

    B. Terfassa

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  1. G. D. Gebreeyessus
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  2. D. Berihun
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  3. B. Terfassa
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Correspondence to G. D. Gebreeyessus.

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All authors declare that there is no conflict of interest among authors and/or other associated in this current research work.

Ethical statement

Before commencing the work, the research proposal was evaluated and approved by the Institutional Research Ethics Board of Kotebe Metropolitan University Institutional Ethical Review Committee that is run by: Dr. Elazar Tadesse Bala: Chair person, Mr. Daniel Zewde: Secretary, Mr. Engida Tade: Member, Dr. Tadesse Gemechu: Member, Dr. Teferi Bogale: Member, Dr. Teshome Belay: Member. The above-mentioned committee approves also that it does not have any objection to the submission of the manuscript for the International Journal of Environmental Science and Technology.

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Editorial responsibility: M. Abbaspour.

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Gebreeyessus, G.D., Berihun, D. & Terfassa, B. Characterization of solid wastes in higher education institutions: the case of Kotebe Metropolitan University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Int. J. Environ. Sci. Technol. 16, 3117–3124 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13762-018-1953-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13762-018-1953-y

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