Circular Economy in Waste Reduction, Income and Employment Creation Potentials: The Case of Assosa Town Municipal Solid Waste Management, Western Ethiopia

Abstract

The circular economy principle is applied in manufacturing, industries and services provision to minimize waste, through waste recycling and reusing, and recovering, making wise of resources, and changing waste –to- income. However, the application a circular economy to municipal solid waste (MSW) management services has been scarcely reported. The objectives of the study were to determine the potential of recoverable, recyclable, and reusable municipal solid waste, and evaluate how much income and employment can be created if the circular economy is applied. The study was conducted in Assosa Town using survey questionnaires that involved 385 randomly selected households. Samples from public institutions, commercial centers, and small- scale enterprises were systematically selected. The SW generated from these four major sources were monitored and recorded for three consecutive months. The study results showed that 73% of the average annual SW generated from HHs, 67.7% of institutions, 69.6% of commercial centers, and 77.1% of small enterprises were recyclable and reusable, as well as, recoverable. Based on the current local market value, the recyclable, reusable, and recoverable SW can generate an average annual income of 49,972,996.31 ETB / y, which is possible to create employment opportunities for 375,585 persons /year. Hence, it is concluded that applying a circular economy principle helps reducing wastes moving to landfill site, enabling them to convert waste-to-money and create employment. Thus, it is suggested that municipalities should shift from linear approach to SW management and deploy existing waste resources through implementing a circular economy principle in provision of MSW management service.