Potential landfill site selection for solid waste disposal using GIS-based multi-criteria decision analysis (MCDA) in Yirgalem Town, Ethiopia

Abstract

Proper solid waste disposal is an important socioeconomic and environmental concern for all developing countries like Ethiopia. Due to a lack of proper disposal sites, infrastructure, and knowledge on suitable site selection, most cities/towns wrongly prefer water bodies, roadsides, and open areas as the best suitable for solid waste disposal. Such improper site selection will create morphological changes that lead to environmental hazards in the urban and surrounding areas. This study aims to identify suitable sites for solid waste disposal in Yirgalem town using the existing GIS-based multi-criteria decision analysis (MCDA) techniques. Thematic layers of road and stream network, settlement, land cover, slope, view shade, dumping site, river, and soil type and soil depth were considered as primary criteria and weights for criteria, and sub-criteria were assigned by MCDA analysis. Then, each criterion is mapped using the GIS technique, and a suitability map is prepared by overlay analyses. The consistency ratio of 0.049405 which is <0.10 endorsed the accuracy of the pairwise comparison matrix. The results indicate that 29.06% of the study area is unsuitable for the solid waste disposal site. However, 35.47% of the study area was marginally suitable, 27.84% moderately suitable, and 7.63% of the area was highly suitable is preferable for the solid waste disposal site.

Keywords:

• Municipal solid waste
• landfill site
• multi-criteria decision analysis
• remote sensing
• AHP
• GIS
• Yirgalem

Reviewing Editor:

• Sanjay Kumar Shukla, Edith Cowan University, Australia

Subjects:

• Earth Sciences
• Environmental Studies
• Environmental Management
• Environment & Health
• Environment & the City
• Databases

Acknowledgements

The author is grateful to Hawassa University, Wondo Genet College of Forestry and Natural Resources for the financial support and all the logistics. The author sincerely thanks Yirgalem Town administration for permitting us to carry out this study and their support during data collection.

Disclosure statement

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

Data availability statement

The data used to support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author upon request.

Additional information

Funding

The author received funds from Hawassa University, Wondo Genet College of Forestry and Natural Resources.

Notes on contributors

Mikias Biazen Molla

Mikias Biazen Molla (PhD) is an Associate Professor (Senior Lecturer and Researcher) in GIS and Remote Sensing at Hawassa University, WGCRNRs, Ethiopia. He has been lecturing in different courses related to geospatial technology and environmental and/or natural resources-related studies. He conducted various research and community service activities and also advised so many MSc and PhD student research projects in his field of study. His current research interests include GIS, Remote Sensing, Environmental Planning and Management, urban green infrastructure and the environmental performance of Cities, Ecosystem services, Climate change, and geospatial technology applications in various fields of study.