Multi-Criteria Selection of Suitable Institutional Solid Waste Collection Sites: A Case of KNUST Campus, Kumasi, Ghana

Abstract

Solid waste receptacles siting is becoming increasingly difficult due to increase in population and infrastructure development that has limited available space for waste collection. This study focused on selection of environmentally friendly sites for waste receptacle placement in Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) based on multi-criteria decision analysis in a geographic information system (GIS) environment. ArcGIS software was used in overlaying different thematic maps in order to generate suitable areas for siting communal containers and small bins. Environmental criteria considered include river bodies, vegetation, road network, buildings, car park and slope. The analytical hierarchy procedure was used to determine the weight of each criterion used in finding the suitable sites. The final suitability maps generated showed areas deemed suitable for siting communal containers and small bins. Out of the total land area of KNUST (10.35 km2), 0.86 km2 representing 8.31% was suitable for siting small bins. For communal containers, the final suitability map indicated that 1.69 km2 (16.33%) and 0.73 km2 (7.05%) of the total land area were suitable and most suitable sites respectively. The findings from this study serve as guidance tool for environmentally friendly solid waste receptacle siting and good health promotion with efficient land use planning.