Towards a trash-free Addis Ababa: pathways for sustainable, climate-friendly solid waste management
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, has experienced significant population growth and an increase in living standards for years, resulting in increased solid waste generation and solid waste management (SWM) challenges. Inadequate SWM in the city causes land, water, and air pollution as well as negative impacts on natural ecosystems, local economies, public health, social equality, and the global environment. Despite efforts made by the Addis Ababa government and some stakeholders, the city’s SWM systems urgently need to be upgraded and modernized. This report prioritizes and proposes a set of SWM interventions that Addis Ababa may include in its investment program over the next decade. The interventions are grouped in institutional strengthening, research and technical assistance, and physical investments. Additionally, the report designs three scenarios to implement the interventions for SWM in Addis Ababa: Business-as-usual, conservative, and aggressive. The changes in waste generation, treatment, and greenhouse gas emissions in 2020-2030 across the three scenarios were projected.
