Determinants of household-level solid waste sorting practice the case of Bure town, North-western Ethiopia

Abstract

This study investigates household-level determinants of solid waste (SW) sorting practices in Bure town, North-western Ethiopia, addressing a critical aspect of environmental sustainability and public health. Employing a cross-sectional design and mixed research approach, data were gathered from 238 randomly selected households through structured interviews, focus group discussions (FGDs) and field observations. Descriptive analysis revealed that 47.1% of respondents do not engage in SW sorting, leading to unsafe disposal practices and environmental pollution. Binary logistic regression analysis identified several determinants of low sorting practices, including lower monthly incomes, home ownership issues, limited access to appropriate disposal sites, insufficient training or education on waste management and lower educational levels. Interestingly, females exhibited higher levels of waste sorting compared to males. These findings underscore the importance of context-based interventions to improve waste management practices at the household level in emerging urban areas like Bure town. Stakeholders, including waste generators, local authorities and the community, play a crucial role in enhancing the SW sorting system to promote environmental sustainability and public health.