Journal(of(Materials(and((
Environmental(Science(
ISSN(:(2028;2508(
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J. Mater. Environ. Sci., 2021, Volume 12, Issue 03, Page 455-471
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Copyright(©(2020,(
University(of(Mohammed(Premier((((((
Oujda(Morocco(
Assessment of the Environmental and Health Impacts of disposal Plastics in Gode
town, Somali regional state, Eastern Ethiopia
Beshir A. Hussein1*, Abebaw A. Tsegaye2, Abduselam Abdulahi 3
1
Department of Chemistry, SOS Herman Gmeiner!School, P.O. Box 44, Gode, Ethiopia
2
Department of Chemistry, Bahirdar University, P.O. Box 79, Bahir Dar, Ethiopia
3
Assistant Professor of Agricultural Economics, Kebri Dehar University, P.O. Box 250, Kebridahar, Ethiopia
Received 20 Nov 2020,
Revised 05 April 2021,
Accepted 06 April 2021
Keywords
! Disposal
! Plastics waste
! Environment
! Health
! Gode
beshir45@gmail.com
Phone: +251921436796
Abstract
The increase production of plastics, generation of high plastic disposals and mismanagement
of wastes are the main causes of environmental pollution and human health effects. This study
was assessed the environmental and health impacts of disposal plastics in Gode town, Eastern
Ethiopia. The necessary data was collected from 265 households from the three Kebeles
selected by using random and purposive sampling methods. The findings revealed that the
waste generates in Gode town was plastic bags (46%), water and soft drink bottles (34%),
household utensils (16%) and others (4%). The sources of plastic wastes in Gode town were
residential (55%), commercials (32%), industries (9%) and other sources (3%). The poor
management of municipality, shortage of resources materials, absence of private waste
collectors and absence of legal legislation were identified as main challenges faced in the
town. The result of this study also demonstrates that disposed plastic wastes had negative
impacts on human health, animal health, blockage of sewage tubes and Environmental
pollution which was ranked as 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th respectively. Residents were infected by
viral diseases like dengue fever, respiratory disease, lung disease and shortage of breath. In
addition to this, domestic and marine animals were infected by disposal plastics dumped
everywhere. Furthermore, this study recommended that the municipal should use disposal
wastage preventive measures which includes, households level waste reduction methods,
increasing public awareness, providing eco-friendly alternative materials and developing
restriction policy and legislations in order to improve waste management practices and
minimization of waste disposal hazards in Gode town.
1.( Introduction
Plastics are organic polymeric materials consisting of a large collection of synthetic organic
compounds that are produced by polymerization of many repeating units (monomers) that come together
to build copolymers [1]. Plastics enjoy a number of enormously desirable characteristics: inexpensive,
lightweight, strong, durable, high strength-to-weight ratio, excellent thermal properties, electrical
insulation, and resistance to acids, alkalis and solvents [2]. !
Over the last decades, worldwide production of plastics have been increased significantly due to
increasing demand in developing country as in Asia, Africa and South America [3]. Since 1950 to 2018,
Beshir et al., J. Mater. Environ. Sci., 2021, 12(3), pp. 455-471
!
455
about 6.3 billion tones of plastics have been produced worldwide, 9% and 12% of which have been
recycled and incinerated, respectively. The increasing of Human population and steady demand for
plastic products were responsible for continuous increase in the production of plastics and generation of
plastic disposal wastes [4].
Plastic products and their wastes are a global problem, but with regional inconsistency. Plastic is burnt
releasing toxic gases into the atmosphere, liberates hazardous halogens and pollutes air, harmful to
central nervous system, carcinogens, heart disease, aggravates respiratory ailments such as asthma and
emphysema and cause rashes, nausea or headaches [5]. Hence, a sustainable plastic pollution control is
necessary for the protection of human, animals and environment. Most plastic industries are used
additive materials like bisphenol A, phthalates, poly-fluorinated, dioxins, brominated flame retardant
and antimony trioxide during manufacturing and these materials have unfavorable effects on
environmental and human health [6]. Moreover, little efforts were involved in some parts of the world
associated to plastic waste collection, recycling and reuse [7]. Recently many researches were indicated
that plastics brought miscellaneous effects on environment [8, 9], human health [6, 10], Fishes [11, 12],
soil [13], cattle [14], and national parks [15].
In developing countries, least preferred waste management techniques like incineration and
landsfilling were practiced and they have poor management decision related with waste control. In order
to reduce the problems and control wastes; Ethiopian government made a proclamation and signed
international convection about solid waste management (SWM) in 2007 [16]. Unfortunately, the articles
of SWM Proclamation were not included legal frameworks about plastic industries if they distributed
low quality plastic for consumers and the product that is not labeled how it is biodegradable or not as
well as necessary safety instructions [17].
In many cities of Ethiopia the municipality of waste collection, removal and administration were very
weak, not enough containers to collect the waste and waste collection push carts were full for long
periods of time and very limited effort to recycle, reuse or recover the wastes. The study by Mengist and
Assegid [18] in Adama city, Ethiopia revealed that the capability of the containers did not bring all the
waste generated by the locality and containers were not picked up by the municipality before the waste
overflowed. Some studies have shown that only 43% of waste is collected in the country are properly
collected and disposed in open landfills. The remaining waste is indiscriminately disposed in drainage
system, open spaces, street sides, rivers, forest or is informally burned [19].
In Ethiopia several researches showed that plastic wastes were the major type of solid waste generated
in some cities. Yohanis and Genemo [19] were identified that from the total wastes generated in Jigjiga
City, 28% of the wastes were plastic bottles and bags from both residential and commercial areas.
Tesfaye [20] was identified 64 % of the total solid wastes in Addis Ababa city were non biodegradable
organic wastes. In Addition, the study done by Lema et al [21] indicated the type of wastes generated in
Assela, Ethiopia includes; Plastic (34.8%), Food residual (31.4%), paper (30.3%), metal wastes (1%)
and other wastes (2.5%).
Gode town is a station of non- governmental organizations (NGOs), hospitals and industries and
generated numerous amounts of solid wastes. The city municipality is not worked friendly with NGOs,
private organizations and public groups and has low awareness creation about solid waste management
among potential consumers. There is no container (push cart) in the city and consumers transported solid
Beshir et al., J. Mater. Environ. Sci., 2021, 12(3), pp. 455-471
456
wastes by donkey cart, disposed unauthorized dumping sites such as river, roads, and forest and as well
as informally incinerated. In addition, no comprehensive studies were conducted on the plastic waste
management system, techniques and sources of disposal and impacts of plastic wastes in the study area.
Based on the above research gaps this study was intended to assess the environmental and health impacts
of disposal plastic in Gode town, Somali regional state, Eastern Ethiopia and implicated the possible
measures to reduce the negative impacts of plastic disposal in the city. The finding of the study could
important for city municipality, policy makers and give baseline information for researchers who could
like to conduct plastic and plastics waste disposal related issues (Figure 1).
Figure 1 Conceptual framework (Developed by researchers)
2. Materials and Methods
2.1 Study Area
The study was conducted in Gode town, a capital city of Shabelle zone, Somali National Regional
State of Eastern Ethiopia (Figure 2). It is located about 1225 km far from Addis Ababa, the capital city
of Ethiopia and 600 km from Jigjiga, the capital city of Somali regional state. The climate of the town
is scorched to semi-scorched marked by drought, seasonal variations and an average rainfall between
150-250 mm. Imi woreda in the north, Kelafo woreda in the south, Adadley woreda in the west and
Denan woreda in the east bound Gode town. The altitude of Gode town is 260m above sea level. The
minimum and maximum temperature of the town is 28° C and 40° C respectively. The mean annual
rainfall is about 200 mm scattered in two rainy seasons gu (April-June) and dayr (October to December).
According to the 2007 Population Census, the total population of the town were 43,234 (24,223 male
and 19,011 females) and the population has enlarged by both returnees from Somalia and dropouts from
pastoral economy. The main economic activities in Gode town includes among others trading, agropastoralist and manufacturing enterprises [22, 23]
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457
Figure 2 Geographical location of the study area
2.2 Sources of Data
Both primary and secondary data sources were used to conduct this study. Primary data was collected
by! using! questionnaires, key informant interviews and filed observation methods of data collection.
Secondary data was collected by reviewing annual reports of water bottling factories, published and
unpublished articles and city municipality documents.
2.3 Sample Size and Sampling Techniques
!
Table 1. Demographic characteristics of the respondents of Gode town (N=265)
Variable
Sex
Male
Female
Educational Illiterate
status
Read and write
Primary Education
Secondary Education
Higher education
Occupation Agro-pastoralist
Municipality worker
Informal waste collectors
Merchants
Government employees
students
other
Frequency
183
82
7
51
78
109
20
12
9
5
85
109
42
3
Beshir et al., J. Mater. Environ. Sci., 2021, 12(3), pp. 455-471
Percentage
69.06
30.94
2.64
19.25
29.43
41.13
7.55
4.53
3.40
1.89
32.08
41.13
15.85
1.13
458
The target population of the study includes agro-pastoralist, municipality workers, households, health
extension workers and informal waste collectors. The data were collected using both random sampling
and purposive sampling techniques. Required data collected from households from the total eight kebles
of the town only 2 kebles were selected using random sampling technique and one kebele (Kebele 05)
was selected purposively, because it is the site of waste disposal in the city and has discriminate
management of wastes. The sample size of respondents was considered as 265 (183 males and 82
females) and based on 95% confidence level and 5% margin of error was calculated. The sample sizes
of male respondents were larger (69.06%) than females (30.94%), because of these participated in plastic
related issues workers dominated by males in the study area.
2.4. Data Collection Instruments
For this study data was collected using questionnaire survey, key informant interviews, Field
observation and document analysis were treated to support the findings of the study. A questionnaire
was prepared by English and translated in to local language (Af- Somali) to clarify the questions and to
reduce misunderstandings of respondents. The questionnaires were used to collect information about
source of wastes generation, methods of waste management, impacts of plastic disposal and possible
techniques to handle waste disposal in the city. Survey observation was engaged for collecting of data
about waste management system of the town, discharging site of wastes and health and environmental
risk implication of events. The annual productions of plastic water bottles were collected using document
analysis of the factories. Poor waste handling of stakeholders and absence of legal frame works in
municipality were collected by key informants and it was analyzed mixed with secondary data.
2.5. Method of Data Analysis
Descriptive statistical (mean, frequency and percentage) was used as data analysis techniques and
each data was analyzed using Microsoft Excel 2007. The data was tabulated and the necessary charts
and graphs were prepared using Origin pro version70 computer software. Analysis of statistical
significance tests were carried out using analysis of variance (ANOVA) at p value less than 0.05.
3. Results and discussions
3.1 Types of Plastic Waste Generation
Several types of plastic wastes were generated in Gode town. As shown in Figure 3, the major
generated plastic wastes in the study area were plastic bags/festal (46%), water and soft drink bottles
(34%), household utensils (16%) and others (4%) including plastic shoes, cooking oil and detergent
containers. Plastic bags from different sources were presented in massive numbers and surplus as wastes
most probably after a single use. The field observation of the researchers indicated that plastic bags
were easily available materials and consumers get it as a bonus when buying of other goods from
supermarkets and informal wholesalers (locally known as “Liwach” in Amharic or “Celis” in Somali)
were exchanges plastics household utensils by used clothes and shoes.
Manufacturers of water bottling and soft drink were identified as chief suppliers of polyethylene
terephthalate (PET) plastic bottles to the environment which have toxic additives and causes cancer,
impaired immunity, and endocrine disruption, developmental and reproductive effects [24].
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459
Household
materials
16%
Others
4%
Plastic
bags/Festals
46%
Water and
soft drink
bottles
34%
Figure 3 The type of plastic waste generation in Gode town (Researchers survey)
The bottled water consumers gradually increased at home, work places and recreation centers as a
replacement for of tap water regardless of careless on environmental effect after use [25]. The study
conducted by Ostby [26], investigated because of the climate condition and lack of tape water availability
in the area people are mainly used packed water bottles in refugee camps of Somali region Ethiopia. The
field survey indicated that in Gode town two bottling water plants are available and people consumed
large amount of water due to hot climate conditions. These plastic products reused by some communities
and discharged on the environment without any safety. Even though Gode spring water enterprise was
prepared re-use 20L PET water bottle to minimize plastic waste in the town, still water bottles and other
plastic waste disposals are crucial indicator for pollution problems.
Table 2 Total annual consumptions of water bottles in Gode town
Bottling
Size of bottle
Aqua Shebelle
Total
consumption
Per day
Per month
Per year
per year
0.5L
1325
39750
477000
1371600
1.0L
2400
72000
864000
20L
85
2550
30600
0.5L
865
25950
311400
1L
1760
52800
633600
factory
Gode spring
Total production
945000
Source: Document analysis of water bottling factories
3.2. Sources of Plastic Wastes
As indicated in Figure 4, the majority of the sources of plastic wastes in Gode town were residential
(55%), commercials (32%), industries (9%) and other sources (3%). The households source of plastic
waste in this area is less than Addis Ababa (76%), the study conducted by Regassa et,al. [27]. Mostly
more plastics debris was available from commercial and domestic sources in developing countries [28].
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460
Figure 4 Sources of plastic waste generated in Gode town (Survey result).
3.3 Techniques of Plastic Waste disposal
In Gode town different methods of plastic waste disposal techniques such as Landfilling, incineration
and waste reuse were practiced at household’s level. Although landfilling is the commonest waste
management conventional approach in many countries, it was found that scarcity of space for landfills
and lack of proper management is became a major challenges for environmental, animal and human
health. In case of rubbish plastic bags fail to reach landfills, escape from the containers and landfills by
wind and become scattered inserted in rivers and lakes [29]. The filed observation and key informant
interview revealed that the disposal site of Gode town is nearest to Shebelle river and residents were
disposed plastic wastes in the area, and then plastic debris were inserted in the river and affected the
fishes and other marine animals.
According to table 3 the other common waste disposal techniques practiced in Gode town was
incineration. Burning of plastics became serious burden on the human and natural environment if the
process is not properly controlled and monitored [30]. The data collected from interviews and field
observation showed that due to absence of garbage container and lack of door to door collector of wastes
for the city municipality, households were incinerating plastic wastes in unsecured places. This is the
most unfavorable ways of waste management which leads to serious environmental and health impacts
included greenhouse gas emissions and cause different health risks [30]. In most developing countries
incineration of wastes were the sources of heat, electricity, or fuel, higher energy savings than recycling,
and energy source for industries, since plastics are modified from petrochemicals like petroleum or
natural gas [31]. Conversion of waste to energy technology was not developed in Ethiopia as well as the
study area domestic and commercial plastic wastes were incinerated manually around road, between
homes and in any free spaces (Figure 5B). According to Table 3 below, Incineration, landfilling, and
wastes reuse were significant waste management technique that used in the study area. But, this study
found that waste reuse was little practice in Gode town. As collected information from interview,
informal waste collectors (locally known as “Korales”) buy few recyclable plastic products in the city,
the other plastic wastes like plastic bags, water and soft drink bottles, food packaging plastics did not
reuse at households level. Therefore, the study results in line with that of [29, 32].
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461
A
B
Figure 5 (A) Unauthorized dumping sites between residential area (B) informal incinerations of
plastic wastes in open space (image taken by researchers)
Table 3 Techniques of plastics waste disposal in Gode town (N=265)
Techniques sex
of waste
disposal
Incineration M
F
landfilling M
F
Recycle M
and reuse F
*significance at p<0.05,
a
Degree of practice of households a
1
47
2
15
7
53
39
2
28
8
19
10
50
14
3
15
16
29
12
44
11
4
42
25
35
17
28
8
!!
!!
5 total
Mean
50
566
3.11
32
326
3.93
84
700
3.85
37
316
3.81
7
432
2.37
11
187
2.25
P value
0.00456*
0.05793**
0.05793
** not significance at p< 0.05
1 = Never; 2 = rarely; 3=sometimes; 4=frequently ; 5= Always
The analysis of variance indicated that statistically significance difference between sex groups (p
value0.00456) and educational status of respondents (p value 0.03811), incineration was mostly
practiced by female and illiterate headed households. During interview, key informants have high
academic performance have a good knowledge and awareness regarding about waste management
techniques. Absences of awareness and education status were crucial factor for failure of a solid waste
management service in developing countries [33].
3.4 Challenges of Plastic waste management in Gode town
Integrated Solid waste management is a challenge for the cities and authorities in developing
countries mainly due to financial problems, inappropriate equipment, poor collection and transportation
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462
system, lack of planning and operation, lack of effective legislation as well as lack of public awareness
about waste management [34, 35].
The information collected from interviews and field observation indicated that the municipality of
Gode town has not adequate materials to manage wastes in the town and had poor coordination between
stakeholders. All respondents (100%) indicated that there is no container, transportation service and door
to door waste collection practice in Gode town. During interview the head of municipality said that “due
to low financial support and limited funds, the office couldn’t provide waste disposal containers and
transportation services for the residents”. Accordingly, private waste collectors were began door to
door waste collection with fee in the town, but households have not willingness to pay the collectors
services and immediately they stopped the work.
Table 4 challenges of plastic waste management in Gode town (N=265)
Items
Yes
No
Frequency %
Frequency
%
Municipality has garbage container
0
0
265
100
Municipality has transportation services
0
0
265
100
Door to door waste collection is found
0
0
265
100
Municipality has legal punishments
26
10
239
90
Community awareness is presents
133
50
132
50
Disposal wastes are Properly managed
10
4
255
96
In developing countries households mostly refuse private waste collectors due to their charge of money.
According to the above table 4, 90% of respondents indicated that there is no legal punishment when
consumers disposed wastes in unauthorized places. Half of respondents (50%) have not obtained
awareness and training about solid waste management. The municipality waste management of Gode
was 96% improperly manage in services, awareness, control and planning. According to health extension
workers in interview, there is little awareness creation campaign in the town about waste collection,
disposal site, and its adverse impacts on environment and health. However, by poor management of
municipality, shortage of resources materials, absence of private waste collectors and absence of legal
legislation households were not exercised effective disposal waste management in the town.
3.5 Impacts of plastic wastes in Gode town
Significant accumulations of plastic debris were toxicological effects on animals, humans and the
cause of air, water and land pollution. The problems of plastic wastes were varied from place to place as
the result of activities of human, availabilities of risked groups and possible measurements to minimize
the risks. According to Table 5, the impacts of disposal plastics in Gode town were human health
problems, animal health problems, Blockage of sewage tubes and Environmental pollution as a ranked
Beshir et al., J. Mater. Environ. Sci., 2021, 12(3), pp. 455-471
463
1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th respectively. The mechanism of toxicity of chemicals released from plastic in the
human body is not precisely determined but it correlated with endocrine disruption [35].
A
!
B
!
Figure 6 open dump sites of plastic wastes (A) in forest (B) road side around Shebelle River (image
taken by researchers)
In Gode town, dumping waste materials including plastics is common and you see every were, plastic
bags with foods in dumpsites released by households were attract rats, flies, birds and other kinds of
animals that have a potential to transmit diseases to humans. The result of key interview with health
extension workers in Gode town revealed that due to poor waste management system residents were
fatalities of viral disease like dengue fever, respiratory disease, lung disease and shortage of breath which
agree with the previous reports [36, 37].
Table 5 Impacts of plastic waste using levels of magnitude and Severity (N=265)
Impacts of plastics
Levels of Magnitude and Severity a
1
a
b
2
3
4
5
Total b
Mean
Rank
Animal Health
4
28
47 66
120
1065
213
2
Human Health
5
21
47 67
125
1081
216.2
1
Environmental Pollution
9
45
52 77
82
973
194.6
4
Blockage of Sewage tubes
2
45
58 55
105
1011
202.2
3
1 = Never; 2 = low; 3=moderate; 4=high; 5= very high
summation of levels of magnitude and Severity multiply by number of respondents
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464
Plastic pollutions have severe effects on domestic animals and aquatic ecosystems. The plastic bags
along with other foreign bodies in domestic animals affect the health and cause economic loss to the
owner. Cows and small ruminant animals (sheep and goats) with polythene materials in their stomach
suffer from immune suppression, depression, loss of weight, arched back and grunting, reduction of milk
yield, and suspended rumination. The below image shown, severity of waste materials on small
ruminants in the study area.
Figure 7 Temporary waste storages and domestic animals were feeds foods from disposal wastes
(image taken by researches)
!
In Gode town the wastes of plastic bags from hotels and restaurants currently had great impacts on life
and livelihoods of people as well as on the health of domestic animals. The problem of plastic waste is
among that and treated the life and reproduction of fishery species in Shebelle River which is very close
to Gode town. Similarly, study by [38] argue that widespread use of plastic and its disposal has become
an enormous impact on the marine environment and ingestion of plastics in plastic debris are causes of
death in marine organism. Similar problems were attended in fishery area of Shebelle River in nearest
to Gode town.
The recent studies showed that the accumulations of persistent plastic products are the causes of
environmental pollutions such as air, water and land by change physicochemical properties of water,
natural beauty deterioration, reduces soil fertility and decrease the growth of plant, increase the
concentrations of greenhouse gases (CO2, methane, chlorofloro carbons-CFCs, nitrogen oxides) and
causing global warming, ozone layer depletion and acidic rain [13, 39, 40]. By exponential increments
of unnecessary packaging of household items such as foods, clothes, detergents, beverages, cooking oil
and some chemicals, consumers deposit wastes of plastic materials along streets, major roads, and public
institutions [41]. During the rainy seasons, unauthorized dumpsites of plastic disposal were disturbed
rain water and flood flows by blockage of sewage tubes and servers, which can be a source of mosquitoes
habitats other communicable diseases.
3.6 Preventive Measures for Reduction Plastic Wastes
In Gode town the effective solid waste management like collection and transportation of waste
disposal, dumping by children, and awareness creation for local communities by Gode city municipals
Beshir et al., J. Mater. Environ. Sci., 2021, 12(3), pp. 455-471
465
were mostly used. According to interview with Gode town officials the local government is effectively
working to minimize the negative impacts of plastic wastes for protection human health and
environment. But, this study found that still the environment, human and animals are in risk. Recently,
scholars including [42, 43] Suggested, three term measurements for stakeholders to reduced plastic
wastes pollutions on environment and public health includes:1.! Production control: reducing consumption through removal of unnecessary packaging,
increasing of public awareness, and providing eco-friendly alternatives (non-plastic products);
2.! Action based Management: modernize waste collection systems and avoiding landfilling,
legalizing private waste collectors, insuring law enforcement;
3.! Plastic replacement technique: replacing by biodegradable (Bio-plastics) which can be obtained
from different plant proteins and implementation of life cycle assessments.
Using Alternative reusable materials
Recently companies of developed countries recommended suitable methods for reduction of usage
of plastic products in world wide. Based on Life cycle assessment is petrochemical based plastic products
were replaced by low-priced alternative reusable materials made from natural fibers, paper and clothes
which have low impact on environment and human health [44]. In India, Myana [45] introduced two
types of degradable reusable shopping bags (1) Oxo-biodegradable bags were break down within 6-18
months in water and air (2) Corn-made biodegradable bags were break down in landfills but not in water
and air. Bioplastics are other eco-friendly renewable plastic product that made from biodegradable and
non-biodegradable materials such as vegetable fats and oils, sugars, wood, cellulose, lactic acid and
starch that decreases consumption of non-renewable energy and reduces the emission of toxic gases as
well as save our universe’s organisms and make the world secure for humans [46].
Waste reduction methods (5R methods)
Effective waste management was represented by pyramidal shaped waste hierarchy that presents all
steps of waste treatments and reduction (Figure 8). The tip illustrates the least desirable solution and the
base shows the first step of action of proper waste management. The concept of 5 Rs denoted Reduce,
Reuse, Recycle, Recover and refuse, may provide as a guiding standard for consumers, industry, and
authorities for suitable measures to controlling impacts of environmental and human health plastic
wastes.
Figure 8 The waste management hierarchy (Adapted from [38]
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466
According to the above diagram, waste control and reduction represent the base of the waste hierarchy.
It included avoiding unnecessary packaging or choosing eco-friendlier alternatives is regulation of
consumption restriction (taxation) in advertisements, and banning single-use products. On the other
hand, waste disposal was identified as the least option of waste handling measurements.
Policy concern of Wastes management
To protect our planet from the accumulation of persistent plastics concerned bodies revised policies
which must be properly followed and implemented in plastic industries, contributors and plastic product
consumers. Legal punishments of plastic producers and consumers are potential rule for reduction of
plastic pollution if they included toxic ingredients in their products and disposed unauthorized places.
It is also important for authorities to enforce and implement regulations that help us to check production,
consumption, usage and ultimate disposal of plastics, irrespective of their hazardous status. However,
the implementation of national policy and local rule and regulations was not practiced at households’
level and private institutions in Gode town. Scholars argue that the problem was low punishment of
individual who disposed wastes in unauthorized places as compared to the payment of private waste
collectors in Ethiopian cities.
4. Conclusion and policy recommendations
Plastic wastes management in Gode town is inauspicious, unacceptable and poor manageable. Due
to poor management and improper handling of plastic wastes; environmental pollution, human and
animal health problems were observed by releasing hazards substances in Gode town. This study
revealed that plastic waste disposal related problems need urgent solution to save life and environment
in the study area. There is no container (push cart) in the city and consumers transported solid wastes
by donkey cart, disposed unauthorized dumping sites such as river, roads, and forest and as well as
informally incinerated. There is no legal punishment when consumers disposed wastes in unauthorized
places. Plastic debris inserted in Shebelle River treated the life and reproduction of fishes. Due to poor
waste management system residents were fatalities of viral disease like dengue fever, respiratory disease,
lung disease and shortage of breath. Domestic animals were infected by plastics that disposed from
Hotels and restaurants in Gode town. Unauthorized dumpsites of plastic disposal were disturbed rain
water flows by blockage of sewage tubes and servers. Stagnant water in sewage tubes were the ideal
habitat for mosquitoes and other parasites. Therefore, this study provides the following
recommendations for all stakeholders:!! Gode city municipality should seriously work with Gode town operating international and local
NGOs, private and public organizations to create awareness about solid waste management for
potential consumers;
!! Gode city municipality shall develop strategic plans to manage dramatically increasing waste
disposal in the city.
!! Somali regional government shall develop legal documents to protect the environment from
plastic waste disposals and promote principal methods of human life and environmental
protection.
Beshir et al., J. Mater. Environ. Sci., 2021, 12(3), pp. 455-471
467
!! Gode municipality shall provide necessary materials for waste disposal and identify authorized
waste disposal spaces.
!! Educational curriculums at secondary and university level shall include ways of plastic
pollution reduction and waste management as their education system.
!! Gode community and civil societies shall work on awareness creation and community
mobilization against plastic and other wastes disposal in unauthorized places.
Acknowledgements:-The authors would like to thanks for Gode town municipality workers, Gode spring
and Aqua-shabelle bottling water management teams for their support and giving relevant information. Mr.
Sufyan Mohammed also greatly acknowledged for the data collection and the translation of questionnaires in local
language.
!
Authors’ Contributions:This work was completed through the contribution of all authors. BAH collected the
data, analyzed the data and prepared the manuscript, AA and AAT read and edited the manuscript. All authors
have read and approved the manuscript.
Conflict Interests-The authors declare that there is no conflict of interests.
Funding:(This research was not received grant from any funding agency.
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