Ecology, Environment and Conservation Paper

ANALYSIS OF HEAVY METALS IN MUNICIPAL SOLID WASTE: IN CASE OF KOSHE OPEN DUMPING SITE OF ASSELA TOWN, OROMIA REGION, ETHIOPIA

Saudi Bahmud Mame, Lemma Wogi and Rejila Manikandan

Abstract

Solid municipal waste usually contains food waste, paper, metal scraps, glass, ceramics, ashes, etc. Over a period of time decomposition or oxidation process releases heavy metals into the water, soil and plant material growing on the waste dump site by that contaminating them. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to identify the status of selected heavy metals in municipal solid waste at Koshe open dumping site of Assela Town. For seven consecutive days metal wastes were manually separated from all wastes dumped at the site to identify the sources of heavy metals. Sources of the metals were categorized under three groups; household (1.29) commercial (5.69) and institution (3.32 kg/day). For assessing heavy metal concentration in decompose municipal solid waste at the dumping site, three decomposed waste samples were collected. Heavy metals such as: Fe, Mn, Cu, Zn, Ni, Co, Cr, Pb and Cd in decomposed municipal solid waste samples were analyzed. Results showed the concentration of these heavy metals in the decomposed municipal solid waste samples were in the order of Fe>Mn>Zn>Cu>Ni>Cr>Co>Pb>Cd. The pH, EC, OC values of decomposed municipal solid waste sample where 8.3, 1.59 dS/m, and 3.33% respectively. Generally, the concentrations of some of the heavy metals recorded in decomposed municipal solid wastes were below the limits but continuous dumping of these sources of wastes may be hazardous for plants, humans and animal.