Solid Waste Management in Ajdabiya City: A Study in Environmental Geography

Abstract

This study purposes  to evaluating the efficiency of the collection, transportation and final disposal of solid waste in the city of ajdabiya, and it addressed the factors that led to the increasing quantities of domestic solid waste in the city and the most important factors are the continuous increase in population numbers, urban expansion and change in the standard of living and consumption style of population, which requires the necessity of an agency that work to manage these increasing quantities of solid waste in the city, and due to the limited capabilities available to the authorities entrusted with the city, this led to increase in solid waste accumulation in streets ,alleys and entrances of the city, this requires proper management of this waste to minimize its risks to the environment and the health of population. It was found that the Mediterranean company is currently in charge of public cleaning operations in ajdabiya city, and all capabilities have been provided, including mechanisms and national and foreign manpower, but these capabilities are considered insufficient to cover all streets and neighborhoods, however, cleaning operations have become limited only to the main streets in the city, which contributed to the accumulation of waste in some neighborhoods and spread of pollutants, and threat the health of population, in addition of the final disposal process followed is through incineration of waste, all of that led to the increase of the rate of the environmental pollution and the spread of pollutants of all kinds and lack of environmental awareness among citizens and lack of cooperation with the competent authorities contributes to exacerbating the issue of solid waste pollution in the city. The study relied in collection data from primary sources, such as books, references, periodical, government reports and the internet, and relied in the collection of secondary data on a questionnaire and personal interviews with officials in the area, and the environmental pollution agency of the region, and taking photographs that monitor the phenomenon in the study area, however, data was analized by using the SPSS statistical method. The study concluded with a set of findings and made a number of recommendations that can be used to improve solid waste management in the study area.