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ORIGINAL RESEARCH article
Front. Sustain.
Sec. Waste Management
Volume 6 - 2025 | doi: 10.3389/frsus.2025.1528851
Solid waste disposal site selection using GIS and the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) model: a case study conducted in Gimba town, Northeastern Ethiopia
Provisionally accepted- College of Natural and Computational Science, Mekdela Amba University, Tulu Awuliya, Ethiopia
Solid waste mismanagement, including the improper use of river courses, roadsides, and open areas for waste disposal, remains a critical challenge to the socio-economic development of Gimba Town, NortheasternEthiopia. This study aims to identify optimal landfill sites using Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) model, ensuring environmentally and socio-economically sustainable waste disposal. Nine thematic criteria, built-up areas, slope, proximity to rivers, groundwater withdrawal points, land use and land cover, fault lines, roads, geology, and soil texture were analyzed to determine suitable landfill locations.The weight of each criterion was calculated using the AHP model, with built-up areas (30.33%), slope (21.95%), and proximity to rivers (15.01%) emerging as the most influential factors. A suitability map was generated, categorizing the land into four suitability classes: very highly suitable (2.65 km²), highly suitable (56.91 km²), moderately suitable (78.38 km²), and unsuitable (26.46 km²). The findings indicate that only a limited portion of Gimba Town is appropriate for landfill development, emphasizing the importance of data-driven decision-making in waste management planning. This study demonstrates the effectiveness of integrating remote sensing, GIS, and the AHP model in landfill site selection, providing a replicable framework for sustainable solid waste management. The results serve as a crucial tool for policymakers and urban planners to mitigate environmental and public health risks associated with improper waste disposal.
Keywords: AHP, GIS, Disposal site, Solid Waste, Suitability
Received: 05 Dec 2024; Accepted: 21 Mar 2025.
Copyright: © 2025 Teku, Sisay and Abebaw. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.
* Correspondence:
Degfie Teku, College of Natural and Computational Science, Mekdela Amba University, Tulu Awuliya, Ethiopia
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