1. Municipal Solid Waste Management
in
Addis Ababa City
An Overview
Office of Health and Environmental Sanitation
Addis Ababa City Health Bureau
January 2002
Addis Ababa

2. Page 2 of 22
Table of contents
Contents Page
Preface 3
1. Introduction 4
2. Geography & demography 4
3. Situation overview 5
3.1 Institutional bases 5
3.1.1 Public sector 5
3.1.2 Small scale businesses 5
3.1.3 NGOs 5
3.2 Manpower 5
3.3 Budget 6
3.4 Sanitation fee 6
3.5 Public toilet services in Addis Ababa 6
3.6 Solid waste stream in Addis Ababa 6
3.6.1 Quantity of waste generation 6
3.6.2 Source of solid waste 7
3.6.3 Physical composition 7
3.6.4 Chemical composition 7
3.6.5 Hazardous waste situation 8
3.7 Solid waste management stream in Addis Ababa 8
3.7.1 Collection system 8
3.7.2 Coverage of each collection system 8
3.8 Frequency of collection 9
3.9 Transport system 9
3.10 Solid waste processing and treatment 10
3.10.1 Composting and recycling 10
3.10.2 Disposal and Mining 10

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3.11 Legal system 10
4. System constraints 10
4.1 Funds and cost recovery system 11
4.2 Collection stations and disposal site 11
4.3 Manpower development 11
4.4 Waste disposal equipment handling and provision 11
4.5 Cooperation of the population 11
4.6 Management structure and institutional bases 11
4.7 Incentives system 12
4.8 Participation of private sector 12
4.9 Solid waste disposal and treatment measures 12
5. Main goals 12
6. Strategy 13
7. Conclusion 13
8. References 14

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Preface
Waste management is one of the key issues in urban centers of Ethiopia and attention should be
given from its crucial importance to urban management since urban centers are going to play an
increasing role in economic and social development of the country.
Since Addis Ababa is among the forefront growing cities of Ethiopia there is no doubt that waste
management in the city will serve as references, if not model, for other Ethiopian regional capital
cities and towns. This document presents an overview of solid waste management system of
Addis Ababa City.
Fikru Tessma (B.Sc, MSc)
Head of The Office
P.O.Box: 213431
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
e-Mail: fikrut@gmail.com

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1. INTRODUCTION
Today, environmental protection is becoming one of the most important and urgent issues for
policy makers and administrators of urban centers of developing countries to consider
because of:
- The rapid population growth that increases environmental problems,
- The ever-increasing demand for the improvement of the urban environment,
- The quantity and diverse nature of waste,
- The funding limitation for public service, and
- The impacts of emerging technology and limitation in both energy and raw
materials.
Addis Ababa, among the forefront growing cities of Ethiopia, has been established as the
capital city of Ethiopia in 1887 by emperor Menelik on the Entoto hills, then later moved
down to the plains below. As the surrounding countryside was denuded of timber and fuel
wood, the capital moved to places where wood was available. The planting of a fast growing
eucalyptus species in 1895 enabled the capital to remain and expand with decreasing of the
species at its current situation. Its north ward expansion has, and still is, prevented by the
steep slopes of the Entoto hills. The city has thus expanded east and west along the foot of
the hills, more recently southwards out on to the plains.
Beside the physical lay out of the city, that creates inaccessibility of the residents to some
services including waste management services, it is not well planned. With these and some
other complexities of the situations, environmental development is the one that poorly
developed and protection is also inefficient.
2. GEOGRAPHY & DEMOGRAPHY
Addis Ababa has 2200 – 2800 m of altitude above sea level with climate varies from season
of summer, warm, to winter, cool seasons. Addis Ababa City has a size of 53,915 hectares.
Some 24% is residential while 7% is used by government institutions and urban services, 6%
by light and heavy Industry, with the remaining 62% covered by agricultural land, forestry
and other open spaces.

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The Addis Ababa City Government is one of the chartered cities and its City Council is
headed by a president having executive committee engaged in day to day activities and
members of the council’s house. Administratively, the city is divided in 28 woredas and 328
kebeles. Keble is the lowest organ with an average population of 6000 - 7000 dwellers.
The total population of Addis Ababa is 2.7 million with 5.2 persons per households;
however, as to the current situation it is estimated to be about 3 million. The population is
projected to grow at 3.8% per annum.
The majority of people struggle with poverty of below subsistence: up to 100 Birr per month,
101 – 400 birr per month and 400+ per month with 56.7%, 35.1% and 8% population
respectively.
The population age structure (the pyramids) shows that 0 –14 years accounts for about
31.7%, 15 – 64 years 65.6% and 65+ 2.7%. About 40% of the population dwell in highly
densely areas (400 persons/ha).
The majority of the population (97%) lives in non-storied residential units with an average of
2.57 rooms per housing units. Elementary sanitary facilities such as garbage bins and sewer
lines are lacking in most housing units. Over 22% of the households have no toilet facilities.

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3. SITUATION OVERVIEW
Addis Ababa has commenced its SWM service over three decades back with a very limited
resource.
3.1 Institutional Bases
3.1.1 Public Sector
Currently, the Addis Ababa City Health Bureau is engaged in the handling of municipal
solid waste and providing of public toilet (PTS) services since 1994. At regional level,
Waste Management Department in charge of SWM and PTS in the city. At zonal and
woreda level there are Coordinators
.
3.1.2 Small Scale Businesses
There are some small scale businesses (about 11) involved in primary collection of
household wastes by using manual carts with 119 crewmen and over 300m3
garbage
collection per week. This system of collection needs up-grading to bring a significant
change to MSWM service coverage.
3.1.3 NGOs
The NGOs involved, to some extent, are ENDA-Ethiopia, promotes Integrated Solid
Waste Management in Woreda-12, 22 & 26; Plan International, provides dustbin for
households in Woreda-12 & 13; and Women Aid-Ethiopia, has organized primary
collection in Woreda-26.

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3.2 Manpower
There are 1036 workers (permanent) out of which 60% and 36% are practically engaged
in the operation of municipal solid waste management and public toilet services
respectively and 6 professionals in the field and 21 administrative staffs at regional, 6 at
zonal and 26 at woreda level and on the contract bases 276 sanitary guards.
Type Qualification
Grade 12 & Below B.Sc. B.A Diploma
Professionals
 In the field
 Others
1
1
36
Administrative staff 19 2
Crewmen:
 Public (HB)
 Small Scale Business
1036
119
Sanitary guards 276
Total 1450 1 3 36
3.3 Budget
The annual recurrent budget is 8 mill. birr or 0.945 mill. USD and capital budget is 0.7 mill. birr
or 0.0833 mill. USD in which:
Cost share for each type of expenses:
- for salary 46%
- for truck operation 36%
- for disposal 18%
Cost share by type of activities:
- for collection 21%
- for transport 46%
- for street sweeping 15%
- for disposal 18%

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3.4 Sanitation fee
Households do not pay sanitation fee but some institutions in the form of fee and chat
providers in the form of tax pay not more than 3-4 million and 18-20 million birr per year
respectively. Some institutions, that generate large volume of waste, are also pay as a
service charge at a rate of 11 birr per cu.m.
3.5 Public toilet services in Addis Ababa
There are 74 public toilets in the city with 565 seats and serve on the average 1.7 thousand
to 2.0 thousand people per day. At present a total of 167 m3
of sewerage per day is
transported to the treatment plant (oxidation ponds located at south and south east of the
city) from septic tanks of the toilets by using vacuum trucks.
3.6 Solid Waste Stream in Addis Ababa
3.6.1 Quantity of Waste Generation
The quantity of solid waste generation units and its handling was unclear until 1982 when a
Norconsultant first published its study findings. The second study was made by the French
Mission in the year 1986. The third available study was made by Louis Berger International
in collaboration with the Addis Ababa City Health Bureau in the year 1994 and 1995.
The last study was made by Ethiopian Science and Technology Commission in
collaboration with the Addis Ababa City Administration and Addis Ababa University
Engineering Faculty, which mainly focuses on technological options for waste treatment in
the year 2000.
Typical estimates on urban solid waste generation in less developed countries are as
follows:
- Domestic solid waste 0.2 – 0.8 kg/capita/day
- Commercial waste 0.1 – 0.2 kg/capita/day
- Street sweepings 0.05 – 0.2 kg/capita/day
- Institutional waste 0.05 – 0.2 kg/capita/day

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The typical density range of MSW for some industrialized countries is also 100 – 150
kg/m3
, for middle income countries 175 – 330 kg/ m3
and for low income countries 250 –
650 kg/ m3
,
According to the Luis Berger consult study, the unit of domestic waste generation of per
capita per day is 0.221 kg per day and density is also 336kg/m3 (1994 Study). This study
result is very close to the situation of Addis Ababa City and can be used for planning
purposes. The municipal solid waste collection service coverage is estimated at 65% of the
total generation in the city.
3.6.2 Sources of solid waste
Of the total solid waste generated in the city, major portion is from households and significant
amount from industries and street sweepings and the rest from commercial areas and hotels and
very small amount is from hospital.
3.6.3 Physical Composition
The percentage composition by weight for combustible materials (leaves, grass, etc) is 22%,
for non-combustible (stone, etc) 3%, for fines greater than 10mm size (food waste, straws,
etc) 34%, for fines (ashes) less than 10 mm size 28% and for recyclable materials (paper,
wood, metals, plastics, rubber, etc) 13%.
The organic component of the solid waste of Addis Ababa constitutes about 70% by weight
(1994 Study).
3.6.4 Chemical Composition
No available data was found about the chemical composition of the municipal solid waste of
Addis Ababa. However, from the data available for developing countries’ cities, it can be

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predicted that organic substances (C, N, H) compose about 40 – 50% by weight, inorganic
substances (P, K) 20 – 30% and moisture about 30 - 40% by weight for a typical municipal
solid waste.
3.6.5 Hazardous Waste Situation
Some hazardous wastes are still admitted to the landfill of Addis Ababa for disposal
unknowingly. The improper hazardous waste management system deserves the degradation
and pollution of the environment in the order of sustaining health risks among the exposed
population.
3.6.6 Landfill Atmospheric Emission and Leachate
Methane emission from MSW accounts for 61% of the total emissions of waste sector and
from Addis Ababa City landfills accounts for 18% of the total emissions of urban centers
of Ethiopia.
Based on the IPCC method of estimation, the amount of emission of methane for the last
ten years is estimated at 5343 – 5645 tons per year from Addis Ababa City landfill (2001
Study). The nature of Rapi landfill leachate is not yet known. Sometimes hazardous wastes
are also admitted for disposal in the landfill unknowingly.
3.7 Solid Waste Management Stream in Addis Ababa
3.7.1 Collection System
Most households (HH) have no proper dustbin for storage in their yards, but, few HHs
have dustbin of size ranging from 60 - 100L. There exist different types of collection
systems for the city MSW management, namely: door-to-door/block, communal collections
and street sweeping and emptying of the sewage sludge of septic tanks of the public toilets
(PT), shelters and health institutions (HI).

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It is facilitated by five types of truck: side-loader, compactor, route-packer, container lifter
and vacuum trucks and street cleaners. The 8 and 1.1 m3
containers usually represent mini
transfer stations at communal points of collection and dustbin on the streets for rubbish
collection that covers 14 km street.
3.7.2 Coverage of each collection system
4. Door-to-door service/block:
 Municipal 31%
 Small scale business 5%
5. Communal service:
 Containers (8 m3
) 33%
 Containers (1.1m3
) 23%
6. Street sweeping 8%

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Se. No Treatment /Processing Public Sector Remarks
1 No. of Transfer Station:
 Standard
 Mini
None
Skips 512
2 No. of Compost plant None
3 No. of Incineration plant None
4 No. of landfill 1 Unsanitary
5 No. of Recovery plant None
6 No. of Vehicles for SW collection 78 Minus Vacuum
trucks
7 Transportation rate (Truck/Driver/Day)
1.4
8 Average No. of trips (Trip/Vehicle/Day)
 To disposal
 To mini transfer station
3.5
16
9 Population per refuse vehicle (P:RV) 34615:1
10 Population per crewmen (P:CM)
 Available
 Standard
2606:1
1000:1
11 Expenditure per capita:
 ETB
 US$
3.22
0.38
12 Expenses per M3
SW:
 ETB per M3
 US$ per M3
21
2.45

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3.8 Frequency of Collection
The frequency of collection is based on the type of collection systems. For door-to-door and
block collection service, it is every one - two weeks in serviced areas.
The average frequency of emptying of the skips is estimated at 4-7 days for the 8m3
containers and on daily basis for 1.1 m3
containers. The septic tanks of PT are emptied every
other day and for shelters & HI as need arise.
3.9 Transport System
It is direct hauling for block and door-to-door collection services. In some cases for door-to-
door collection services, there is a sort of transporting to mini transfer station and from mini
transfer station to the landfill. It is also direct hauling for container collection services.
Truck routing is done at woreda level by solid waste management coordinators and for
vacuum trucks at regional level.
3.10 Solid Waste Processing and Treatment
3.10.1 Composting and Recycling
The public sector has nothing to do with processing of solid waste. There is no waste
recovery system or operation, composting, waste-to-energy and source reduction and
separation at point of generation. But, some scavengers practice an informal type of solid
waste recovery at landfill site. They recover plastics, rubber, bottles, metals and
combustible materials that can be used as a fuel. Some other informal groups also recover
some components of solid waste at its source.

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3.10.2 Disposal and Mining
The method employed to dispose refuses is disposal on land. The existing disposal site
called Rapi dump yard is the only site for disposal of municipal solid wastes for the last 37
years and situated southwest of the city with a total area of 25 hectares. Currently, it is
filled with garbage and needs rehabilitation.
The already disposed refuse is estimated to be more than 8.9 million cubic meters or 3
million tones. The landfill operational procedure is unsanitary. It is simply spreading and
leveling by using the bulldozers and compacting by steel studded wheel compactor. There
is also no atmospheric emission and leachate control and soil cover. There is no mining for
the already decomposed wastes placed in the LF as a fertilizer or land reclaim.
There are 3 new proposed sites by the master plan for landfilling and each with 6-10
hectares in size and situated at eastern, western and southern part of the city. They are not
yet developed.
3.11 Legal System
There is no waste policy at federal or regional level. A regulations for pollution control is
under process and no guidelines for private waste operators. The only laws and regulations
are the Legal Notice of the Addis Ababa City Government and the Public Health Law of
the Ministry of Health. They are operational community health regulations and laws.
Based on the current policy issues, the City Council of Addis Ababa also considers its
responsibility for waste management among issues requiring top priorities; gives due
attention to up-grade solid waste management and public toilets services and reinforce the
legal aspects as regards to beautification and environmental protection in the city with the
involvement of private sector and community participation.

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4. SYSTEM CONSTRAINTS
The situation of WM problems in other parts of the world is to a certain extent similar;
because WM has become one of the most important environmental issues in terms of
pollution control, finance and health.
4.1 Funds and cost recovery system
The public sector is not organized as a profit making organization. The resource available for
solid waste management is not sufficient and a cost recovery system is also absent. Specific
waste collection taxes are not well organized and funds are derived from the general income
of the city government.
As a consequence, economics of scale of equipment and facilities are seldom recognized.
The expensive parts of the system like waste collection, transport & disposal equipment and
public toilets have started to deteriorate.
4.2 Collection stations and disposal site
The physical layout of a city, road condition, disposal sites and increase of waste generation
determines the collection system. Most of the inner part of the city is not accessible for trucks
thus the skips are placed near/on the main roads and wastes should be carried manually from
the households to the skips. The landfill site located at one direction also affects frequency of
collection and also incurs transport cost.
4.3 Manpower development
Number of crewmen is 40% of the total need and shortage of qualified professionals are also
problems to be addressed. As a result, much more effort is needed to strength solid waste
management services.

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4.4 Waste disposal equipment handling and provision
There is no well-organized specialized central or discenteralized truck parking and effective
and efficient garage service. As a consequence, it is not possible to have spare truck for daily
activities to make the collection and transport system sustainable. As a result, collection and
transport systems are becoming the most inefficient part of the service. The number of refuse
trucks should increase annually by 13% of the existing fleet to sustain truck availability and
cope up with the ever increasing demands for the handling of waste generation.
4.5 Cooperation of the population
Irrespective of who carries and places waste in the skips and trucks is still demanding the
cooperation of the population to be corrected. The cooperation from population becomes
more and more important in the SW collection and storage System and utilization of public
toilets properly. This is the case in the City of Addis Ababa: collection and storage system
of solid waste that has been performed is unsatisfactory. As a result, open drains, spaces and
rivers are the places where wastes end up.
4.6 Management structure and institutional bases
With respect to the institutional arrangement and management structure, they are not set in
the most responsive manner and this greatly affects work coordination, control, monitoring
and evaluation mechanisms.
4.7 Incentives system
The general and social status of motivation system for workers of WM is still low and a
barrier to give good quality of services. Salaries for management staff and workers are also
low and jobs within such organization are not attractive to most careers minded qualified
personnel.

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4.8 Participation of private sector
The involvement of the government alone and lack of private sector involvement in SWM
and PTS are becoming the main important parts to be considered for their implication on
collection and disposal of wastes in the city. Especially collection is labour intensive and it
is not an easy task for the public sector to carry out alone.
4.9 Solid waste disposal and treatment measures
The existing landfill is unsanitary and creates environmental pollution to the surrounding
areas. Treatment options like composting, recycling and waste to energy are totally absent.
Transporting all wastes to one landfill is not economical because it incurs landfilling
operational costs and increases atmospheric emissions.

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5. MAIN GOALS
The main goals with in the solid waste sector target a system for Addis Ababa City that will
help to develop a sound waste management towards economically affordable,
environmentally effective and socially acceptable services.
Mainly this includes:
 Private sector involvement:
- To solve institutional deficiency and improve capacity.
- To increase service coverage and access every citizens.
 An acceptable standard collection system:
- To improve collection technique and make the facilities
attractive and acceptable.
- To avoid unsighty condition and increase
environmental attractiveness.
- To bring population cooperation.
 Resource recovery:
- To enhance waste minimization mechanism.
- To improve landfill management and transport costs.
- To avoid shortage of land for disposal.
- To maximize raw material inputs from waste.
- To integrate the operational system.
 A standard landfill management:
- To exempt environmental impacts at landfilling.
- To make safe the operational procedure for workers.
 Appropriate landfill resource utilization:
- To mine the already decomposed wastes for land
reclamation.
- To use the landfill gas as energy source.
 Environmental pollution control policies, laws and regulations:
- To penalize polluters and secure the sustainability of
the system.

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6. STRATEGY
6.1 Create a phased action plan for the key elements:
 Identify elements for system development (improvement of institutional bases:
institutional arrangement and management structure).
 Identify other elements for capacity building (provision of necessary equipment, facilities
and personnel and financing).
6.2 Determine an appropriate solid waste management system:
 Design an integrated waste management system – different treatment options and private
sector involvement.
6.3 Establish an acceptable standard of service delivery:
 Determine portion of waste generated in each category and set the target for collection
service.
 Identify what level of citizen convenience is acceptable in the collection technique: type
and accessibility of collection services.
6.4 Provide public education and participation programs:
 Provide community awareness creation pilot programs
6.5 Develop regulatory and enforcement support system:
 Enforce proclamations on polluters.
 Formulate waste policy.

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7. CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS
The situation of waste management, especially in urban centers, is very important from
health, beautification and their position point of view. It is, therefore, important to develop
environmentally effective, economically affordable and socially acceptable solid waste
management system.
An integrated solid waste management fulfils this intention, because it:
 Combines a range of waste treatment options: source reduction, composting, recycling
and waste to energy,
 Involves different stakeholders, which will help to manage towards sustainable
development,
 Improves institutional bases to increase service coverage and
 Establishes a standard service delivery mechanism.

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8. REFERENCES
1. CSA, The 1994 population & Housing census of Ethiopia results for Addis Ababa, 1996.
2. Gordon, S, Addis Ababa Solid Waste Management 3rd
and 4th
Study, Louis Berger
International, 1994 & 1995.
3. Legal Notice of the Addis Ababa City Government, 1994
4. Legal Notice of the Ministry of Health, 2000
5. Health Bureau, Addis Ababa, Annual Reports, 1999 – 2001.
6. Health Bureau, Addis Ababa, Health Sector Development Program, the Second Five Year
Plan (2000 -2004), Addis Ababa, October 2001.
7. NMSA, Initial National Communication of Ethiopia to the United Nations Framework
Convention on Climate Change (UNFCC), June 2001.
8. USEPA, A Guide for Methane Mitigation Projects, Jan. 1996.
9. H. Glas, etal, Solid Waste Disposal, Netherlands, 1994.