Key Notes on the Integrated Solid Waste Management Strategic Master Plan in Addis Ababa
Strategic Master Plan for Integrated Solid Waste Management in Addis Ababa City
3.1 Scope and Period
Focuses on transforming conventional waste management to achieve a zero waste, resource-efficient, and sustainable society by 2043.
Recognizes waste as a resource, advocating for environmentally effective, economically affordable, and socially acceptable waste management.
Sets strategic targets:
Short-term (2024-2028)
Mid-term (2029-2033)
Long-term (2034-2043)
Developed through stakeholder feedback and baseline studies.
3.2 Strategic Plan Context
Waste management is linked to health, poverty, resource security, sustainable consumption, and climate change.
Solid waste management contributes approximately 3-5% to total global greenhouse gas emissions (GHGs), largely from methane emissions in landfills.
In Ethiopia, the third national communication report indicated:
AFOLU sector 90.7%, energy sector major contributors.
Solid waste contributes about 361.51 Gg CO2-eq (9%) emissions.
Effective waste management leads to a clean city, attracting tourists and investments.
Ensures compliance with Sustainable Development Goals and Paris Climate Agreement.
Aligns with national environmental policies and plans, including the Home-Grown Economic Development Plan and Climate Resilience Green Economy Strategy.
3.3 Strategic Development Process
Commissioned by the Addis Ababa City Cleansing Agency, developed by the Addis Ababa Institute of Technology.
Involves professional experts across various academic and governmental institutions.
Conducted studies in six thematic areas leading to baseline reports, including:
Waste generation and characterization
Effectiveness of existing MSW collection services
Strategies for integrated solid waste management (the 5Rs: Refuse, Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, Recover)
Multi-stakeholder workshops for validation and input.
3.4 Guiding Principles
Zero Waste: Focus on waste prevention and planning; aims for a holistic approach eliminating waste through systemic changes.
Waste Management Hierarchy: Prioritize waste reduction, followed by reuse, recycling, recovery, and lastly, disposal.
Polluter-Pays Principle: Those generating pollution should bear the costs of managing it.
Proximity Principle: Manage waste as close to its source as possible.
Public Consultation and Participation: Engage stakeholders in strategy development.
Shared Responsibility: Collaborate among government, industry, and communities.
Extended Producer Responsibility: Producers should manage products through their lifecycle.
Community Engagement: Involve communities for ownership and awareness.
Inclusivity and Equity: Ensure accessibility and equity in waste management services.
Data-Driven Decision-Making: Utilize data analytics for informed decision-making and monitoring.
Sustainable Partnerships: Foster collaboration across sectors for effective waste management.
3.5 Strategic Pillars
Organized around four pillars for effective waste management:
Waste Minimization and Circular Economy: Promote waste reduction, recycling, and innovative technologies.
Effective Waste Management Services: Ensure proper collection, transportation, and disposal of waste.
Awareness and Capacity Building: Educate the public and strengthen institutional capacities.
Strengthened Governance and Compliance: Enforce regulations and promote coordinated action.
3.6 Vision and Mission
Vision: A sustainable, green, and clean city minimizing waste and promoting a circular economy by 2043.
Mission: Develop a holistic waste management masterplan prioritizing inclusiveness and sustainability.
3.7 Strategic Goals and Objectives
Specific goals to support the mission:
Waste Management Capacity: Establish effective data management for informed decision-making.
Service Accessibility: Improve waste collection and reduce illegal dumping.
Integrated Waste Management System: Instantiate 5Rs and enhance community engagement.
Landfill Enhancement: Ecological restoration and establishment of alternative landfills.
Community Engagement: Raise awareness and promote sustainable practices.
Legal Framework: Create policies facilitating zero waste and circular economy.
3.8 Expected Outcomes
Improvement in waste management planning, leading to better environmental health.
Enhanced public health and environment through improved waste services.
Reduction in overall waste generation while promoting recycling.
Restored dump sites and sustainable waste disposal alternatives.
Strong community engagement leading to a culture of compliance and responsibility.
Conclusion
The Addis Ababa Integrated Solid Waste Management Strategic Master Plan positions itself as a blueprint for sustainable waste practices, emphasizing stakeholder involvement, innovative waste management, and compliance with environmental standards for a cleaner, safer city.
3.1 Scope and Period
Focuses on transforming conventional waste management methods into a proactive systems approach to promote a zero waste, resource-efficient, and sustainable society by the year 2043. This involves innovative practices and advanced technologies aimed at minimizing waste generation at the source while maximizing recovery and recycling efforts.
Recognizes waste as a valuable resource, advocating for an environmentally effective, economically affordable, and socially acceptable strategy for managing waste. The plan emphasizes the importance of recycling and composting, aiming to significantly reduce the volume of waste sent to landfills.
Sets strategic targets:
Short-term (2024-2028): Implementation of foundational waste management practices and public awareness campaigns to kickstart the initiative.
Mid-term (2029-2033): Expansion of waste diversion programs, establishment of recycling facilities, and improvement of waste collection services citywide.
Long-term (2034-2043): Achieving an integrated, circular economy within the city, where waste generation is minimized, and recovery processes are maximized.
This master plan has been developed through extensive stakeholder feedback, including public consultations, partnerships with NGOs, and baseline studies to evaluate existing waste management conditions in Addis Ababa.
3.2 Strategic Plan Context
Understanding the broader context of waste management is crucial as it is intimately linked to issues such as public health, poverty alleviation, resource security, sustainable consumption patterns, and climate change. The complexities of waste management are compounded by urbanization, which necessitates adaptive and proactive strategies.
Solid waste management is responsible for approximately 3-5% of total global greenhouse gas emissions (GHGs), particularly from methane emissions originating from decomposing organic material in landfills. In Ethiopia, as highlighted in the third national communication report, two main sectors contribute to emissions:
AFOLU (Agriculture, Forestry, and Other Land Use) sector contributes 90.7% of methane emissions.
Energy sector remains a significant contributor as well.
Notably, solid waste contributes approximately 361.51 Gg CO2-eq (9%) to the country's total emissions.
Effective waste management leads to substantial improvements in urban cleanliness, which attracts tourism and investments, ultimately enhancing the economic vitality of the city. It also ensures adherence to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly Goal 11, which promotes sustainable cities and communities, as well as the Paris Climate Agreement commitments pertaining to climate action.
Furthermore, the plan aligns with national environmental policies and development strategies, including the Home-Grown Economic Development Plan and the Climate Resilient Green Economy Strategy, both of which emphasize sustainability and resilience in urban environments.
3.3 Strategic Development Process
This plan was commissioned by the Addis Ababa City Cleansing Agency and developed in collaboration with the Addis Ababa Institute of Technology, drawing on the expertise of professional specialists from various academic and governmental institutions. A comprehensive approach involved conducting analytical studies across six thematic areas that have resulted in detailed baseline reports, these areas include:
Waste generation and characterization: Understanding the types and amounts of waste produced in the city.
Effectiveness of existing MSW (Municipal Solid Waste) collection services: Evaluating the current performance of waste collection systems to identify gaps and areas for improvement.
Strategies for integrated solid waste management: Focusing on the 5Rs - Refuse, Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, Recover - to develop sustainable waste management strategies.
Multi-stakeholder workshops for validation and input: Engaging community stakeholders, including local residents, businesses, and NGOs, to gather insights and validate proposed strategies, ensuring broad-based support for the initiative.
3.4 Guiding Principles
Zero Waste: The focus is on waste prevention and planning, aiming for a holistic approach that eliminates waste through systemic changes in production and consumption patterns.
Waste Management Hierarchy: Prioritizing strategies that minimize waste at the source, followed by reuse, recycling, recovery, and lastly, safe disposal only when necessary.
Polluter-Pays Principle: A policy ensuring that those who generate waste and pollution are financially responsible for its management and cleanup.
Proximity Principle: Emphasizes managing waste near its source to minimize transportation impacts and promote local solutions.
Public Consultation and Participation: Ensures that stakeholders are actively engaged in the development of waste management strategies to enhance transparency and legitimacy.
Shared Responsibility: Advocates for collaboration among government entities, industries, and local communities for efficient waste management outcomes.
Extended Producer Responsibility: Encourages producers to take responsibility for their products throughout their lifecycle, from design to disposal.
Community Engagement: Key to fostering partnerships and building ownership among residents regarding waste management practices.
Inclusivity and Equity: Striving to ensure that all community members have fair access to waste management services, regardless of socioeconomic status.
Data-Driven Decision-Making: Utilizing data analytics and research to guide policy decisions and evaluate the effectiveness of waste management initiatives.
Sustainable Partnerships: Building collaborative relationships across sectors to create synergies and enhance the overall effectiveness of waste management practices.
3.5 Strategic Pillars
All initiatives are organized around four key pillars that focus on effective waste management:
Waste Minimization and Circular Economy: Promoting innovative technologies and practices to reduce waste generation while supporting circular economic principles.
Effective Waste Management Services: Ensuring that proper collection, transportation, recycling, and disposal of waste are maintained to enhance service delivery and public health.
Awareness and Capacity Building: Prioritizing education and training for both citizens and waste management personnel to ensure a robust understanding of sustainable practices.
Strengthened Governance and Compliance: Enforcing regulations effectively while ensuring coordinated actions among various institutions and stakeholders to achieve managerial efficiency.
3.6 Vision and Mission
Vision: A sustainable, green, and clean city minimizing waste through the adoption of circular economic practices by 2043, where waste is viewed as a resource.
Mission: Develop a comprehensive waste management master plan that prioritizes inclusiveness, sustainability, and the participation of all community members in the process.
3.7 Strategic Goals and Objectives
Specific goals aligned with the mission include:
Waste Management Capacity: Establish comprehensive data management systems for informed decision-making, supporting effective waste management efforts.
Service Accessibility: Enhance waste collection services citywide while improving infrastructure to reduce illegal dumping.
Integrated Waste Management System: Implement the 5Rs and foster community engagement strategies to promote waste reduction and recycling.
Landfill Enhancement: Focus on ecological restoration of existing landfill sites and the establishment of environmentally-friendly, alternative waste disposal solutions.
Community Engagement: Raise community awareness and actively promote sustainable waste practices through workshops and public campaigns.
Legal Framework: Formulate and implement policies that facilitate a zero waste approach and support the transition to a circular economy.
3.8 Expected Outcomes
Improvement in waste management planning: Enhanced planning leads to better environmental health outcomes across the city.
Enhanced public health and environment: Improved waste services contribute to cleaner neighborhoods, reducing health risks associated with poor waste management practices.
Reduction in overall waste generation: Promotion of recycling and composting initiatives reduces landfill dependence.
Restored dump sites and sustainable waste disposal alternatives: Previous dumping grounds will undergo ecological restoration, becoming community resources.
Strong community engagement: Increased public awareness fosters a culture of compliance, responsibility, and active participation in sustainable practices.
Conclusion
The Addis Ababa Integrated Solid Waste Management Strategic Master Plan positions itself as a comprehensive blueprint for sustainable waste practices in the city, emphasizing the critical role of stakeholder involvement, innovative management techniques, and strict compliance with national and global environmental standards for a