LANDFILL SITE SELECTION USING GEOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION SYSTEM AND REMOTE SENSING TECHNIQUES: THE CASE OF FICHE TOWN, NORTH SHEWA, OROMIYA, ETHIOPIA

Abstract

Unsafe municipal solid waste disposal is the most difficult problem all over the world. Municipal solid waste has different components. Those responsible for global environmental degradation and health issues as a result of improperly dumped waste. This study aimed to select suitable sites for municipal solid waste disposal of Fiche town using GIS and RS tools techniques. Primary data were collected using GPS, while secondary data were collected from the governmental institution and satellite image. Satellite image resolution used was 12.5 m * 12.5 m. During this research, ten parameters were considered which were used to select suitable sites for municipal solid waste. They were: LULC, built up area, geology, religious institution, soil, slope, road network, groundwater well, groundwater table, and surface water. These parameters were analyzed, pair-wise comparison, and weighted using GIS extension tool AHP. As the result indicated, the suitable area is about 566 ha (19.66%), moderate suitable is 432.8 ha (15.022%), low suitable is about 1830.58 ha (63.54%) and the unsuitable area is about 51.56 ha (1.79%) of the study area. The suitable sites selected for municipal solid waste disposal of Fiche town where: South, South-East, Northerner, and West parts of Fiche town. The area covered was: West direction about 7.28 ha (1.286%), South-East direction 175.42 ha (30.993%), North direction 171.55 ha (30.309%), and South direction 211 ha (37.42%) of the total suitable area. Those areas were far from the main road, built-up area, religious institution, surface water, and groundwater well. Also, the site had: basalt geology, vertosol type of soil, low depth groundwater ( > 50 m), and low slope (< 10%). So, the selected site is suitable for solid waste disposal, because, economical, protects environmental pollution, and easily technical operation. Therefore, the selected sites were highly suitable for municipal solid waste disposal of Fiche town for the coming design year