Geo-spatial technology based on a multi-criteria evaluation technique used to find potential landfill sites in the town of Bule Hora in southern Ethiopia

ABSTRACT

Solid waste has surfaced as an eminent and critical concern of environmental and social significance on a global scale, and Ethiopia, a developing country with limited income, has also encountered unfavorable outcomes due to substandard waste management practices. When pinpointing a fitting landfill location in the town of Bule Hora, various ecological, economic, and societal aspects must be considered; these may result in discord and exacerbate a multifaceted and lengthy process. Hence, this research aims to identify prospective landfill sites within the town and utilize geospatial methods, such as Multi-Criteria Evaluation and Analytic Hierarchy Process, to accomplish its objectives. The utilization of geospatial technology and multi-criteria evaluation provides an efficient manner to simultaneously address all bottlenecks involved in the selection of an appropriate landfill location. Geospatial technology evaluates and manages environmental constraints, whereas multi-criteria assessment categorizes choices based on their desirability. Furthermore, by employing a restriction map adhering to established standards, seven landfill sites have successfully been identified within the town. The Land Suitability Index assesses site suitability based on ecological factors, while the Total Hauling Distance evaluates sites within an economic framework. AHP determines weightings through 25.4 pairwise comparisons, resulting in a consistency ratio of 1.95%. The cartographic analysis is conducted using ESRI ArcGIS version 10.8 software. The findings of this study reveal that 98.69% of the area under study is subject to restrictions. The study recommends the implementation of geospatial methods for identifying suitable landfill sites, which would aid in the decision-making process and prevent hasty decisions from triggering environmental degradation. Proper waste disposal would augment the quality of life for residents by diminishing health hazards. The study endeavors to serve as a reference for other developing countries in selecting appropriate landfill sites.

Implications: The town of Bule Hora also faces the problem of waste disposal; there is no scientifically selected suitable landfill. Residents of the town of Bule Hora practice waste disposal in open fields, near settlements, water bodies, roads, agricultural land, and other places. The main sources of solid waste in the town are homes, shops, hotels, restaurants, open markets, hospitals, educational institutions, private clinics, etc. Water pollution can potentially lead to the spread of waterborne diseases. According to reports from the Bule Horas Health Department, many people are affected by water-related diseases every year. These open landfill systems with no regard for settlement, topography, geology, surface, or groundwater conditions are the consequences of these unsuitable habitats and health problems. To reduce these problems, this study plays an important role in determining the suitability of landfills for the town and proposing alternative measures that can minimize negative environmental impacts from waste. This study aims to apply geospatial-based technology to a multi-criteria assessment technique to select perfectly suitable landfill sites that are environmentally friendly, economically cost-effective, and socially responsible; examine the town’s current waste management system; calculate the selected parameter weights for feature ranking; and delineate solid waste landfills.

Acknowledgment

The author thanks the administrative authorities of the town of Bule Hora and the municipal authorities, the city beautification office, and the municipal administrators of Bule Hora for their cooperation and for providing permission to conduct this study.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Data availability statement

The data supporting the results of this study are available at reasonable request from the corresponding author (Dr. Ajitesh Singh Chandel).

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Ajitesh Singh Chandel

Dr. Ajitesh Singh Chandel is currently an Associate Professor in the Department of Geography and Environmental Studies at Bule Hora University in Ethiopia. With 15 years of progressive work experience in risk mitigation and recovery, he has specialized in climate change, disaster management, geographic information system, remote sensing, geomorphology, solid waste management, land resource management, sustainable development, climatology, hydrology, environment, ecology, cartography, culture, and population, with an advanced expertise in community-based disaster risk management. He has experience developing and delivering international training courses, managing and coordinating regional projects, and providing technical advisory services to governmental and non-governmental organizations in strategic and program planning and capacity development in disaster risk management. Dr. Chandel has published research papers in reputed international journals and presented papers at national and international conferences. He has also contributed chapters in books related to disaster management, climate change, and sustainable development. Besides his academic and professional achievements, Dr. Chandel is actively involved in community engagement programs related to disaster risk reduction, climate change, and sustainable development. He has also been associated with various non-governmental organizations working toward the betterment of society.