Survey on Management Quality and the Level of Environmental Hazards of Rural Solid Wastes (case study: rural areas of Zabol township)

One of the problems originated with the rapid growth of population and rural development in developing countries, especially Iran, is the expansion of solid wastes produced in domestic, agricultural, animal husbandry sections and health care centers. Villages greatly affect their surrounding environment and are affected by it due to their close relationship with the environment. With regards to this proximity, it is crucial to protect the rural environment from wastes. However, the rural residents are less aware of the hazards of contamination caused by scattering of wastes and its mismanagement. After the Islamic Revolution, as the previous systems were put aside, the villages lacked a consistent governance system which led to a myriad of problems. Assigning the management of the rural settlements to Dehyaris (governors of villages), and to some extent to the people, has caused both challenges and opportunities. The present study is done using analytical-descriptive method. First,attempts have been made to determine appropriate indicators by conducting preliminary observations in some rural areas of Zabol.. Subsequently, a set of indicators suitable to the geographical area and the situation in the villages of Zabol township are determined to investigate the quality of managing wastes and their level of environmental hazards. Therefore by using descriptive - analytic studies, theoretical investigations, field observations, and interviews with Village Islamic Councils, local experts and Dehyars, an estimation on the status of solid waste management in rural areas of Zabol township was formed. Data was analyzed through analytic hierarchy process (AHP) in the ArcGIS software. Research findings indicate that management quality of solid waste in the 4.5 percent of these villages is medium and in other villages is weak and very weak. So considering the current status of solid waste management, it is expected that these villages have different levels of environmental hazards according to the type and amount of solid waste. Research Findings also confirmed that the level of environmental hazards of solid waste in 15.9 percent of the villages is high, in 2 percentof the villages is medium and the level in other villages is low or very low. Therefore, in order to reform the current patterns of waste disposal in rural setting, promoting the awareness and systematic training of the residents on the topics pertaining to environmental hazards and solid waste management is suggested.