Assessing the Appropriateness of Waste Disposal Locations and the Environmental Effects in the Expanding Satellite City of Muhanga in Muhanga District, Rwanda

Rapid urbanization in developing countries has intensified the issues of solid waste management, raising serious environmental and public health concerns. This study was proposed to assess the suitability of waste disposal site locations and the environmental effects in the expanding satellite city of Muhanga, Rwanda. The main objective was to assess waste disposal site location that is environmentally friendly, economically feasible and socially acceptable in the satellite city of Muhanga. To achieve the objective, the research has employed a mixed-methods approach, combining Geographic Information System (GIS) and Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) methodologies. GIS was used to examine spatial data on environmental, socioeconomic, and infrastructure issues to determine the feasibility of current and potential garbage disposal locations. AHP was applied to prioritize and rank site selection criteria, ensuring a systematic and data-driven evaluation process. The findings show that Muhanga's present waste disposal sites are improperly situated, with some in environmentally sensitive locations such as wetlands and near water sources, causing soil, water, and air pollution issues. The GIS-AHP study revealed ideal sites that fulfill environmental, social, and economic objectives while minimizing negative consequences. The final suitability analysis found that no place in the research matched all the requirements for a highly acceptable solid waste disposal site, highlighting the importance of rigorous environmental and social protections. The analysis determined that 1.7% (175 ha) of the study area was appropriate, with 31.1% (3,217 ha) being moderately suitable. The bulk, 66.9% (6,922 hectares), was deemed least acceptable, with just 0.3% considered entirely unsuitable. Site selection was heavily influenced by proximity to built-up areas, roads networks, rivers, wetlands, and topographical limits such as slope. The suitable areas were found in the West-South, North-West, and South-East parts of Muhanga's satellite city, especially in grassland regions away from heavily inhabited areas and water bodies. The study concluded that the poor waste disposal practices in Muhanga satellite city leads to environmental deterioration and public health risks. It recommends a comprehensive waste management approach that includes better site selection, improved waste collection, and enhanced recycling and treatment initiatives. It also emphasizes the need for improved district planning and regulatory enforcement to promote sustainable waste management throughout the satellite city's urban expansion. Keyword: Rapid Urbanization, Solid Waste Disposal, Waste Management, Suitability Analysis,  GIS, Analytical Hierarchy Process