Ethiopia: Workshop on solid waste management

A day-long workshop highlighting the actual status of the solid waste management of the metropolis and sanitary landfill construction techniques kicked off in Ethopia.

Opening the workshop entitled "Knowledge and Technology Transfer in Solid Waste Management: Value Adding Approach to the Growing Challenge of the Solid Waste Management in Addis Ababa," Berhanu Berhe, Chairperson of the Association of Ethiopians Educated in Germany (AEEG), said the workshop aims at addressing one of the challenging problems of the capital.

The association has designed projects on solid waste management and Geo Information System (GIS) in cooperation with the Addis Ababa City Administration following a Memorandum of Understanding, the chairperson said, adding that the projects would be implemented in Addis Ababa and other big cities.

Presenting a paper on actual state of solid waste management, General Manager of Sanitation, Beautification and Parks Development Agency of Addis Ababa city Administration, Mussa Hassen, said the workshop would enable to raise the awareness of the public on waste management and share experiences and technology with partners to improve the sanitation of the city.

The waste management system of the city is traditional, the manager said, adding that efforts are underway to develop a new modern system of waste management.

Waste has become a challenge for the city as it has an impact on health, environment, economy, tourism as well as politics, he indicated, adding that the city administration has therefore established a sanitation agency to address the problem.

It has also managed to create jobs in waste management to 10,000 people engaged in micro and small scale enterprises, he said.

The day-long workshop was organized by the Association of Ethiopians Educated in Germany (AEEG) in cooperation with the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD), it was learnt.

[via]