Suitability Assessment of Solid Waste Dump Site’s Locations Using Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis in Gombe Metropolis, Gombe State, Nigeria

Solid waste management remains a major environmental challenge in rapidly urbanizing cities like Gombe urban environs. This study employed Geographic Information Systems (GIS) integrated with Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis (MCDA) using the Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) to identify suitable locations for solid waste disposal. Six criteria: elevation, slope, geology, drainage density, land use/land cover, and road network density were evaluated and weighted according to their relative importance in environmentally sound dumpsite selection. Spatial datasets were processed and integrated through weighted overlay analysis to generate a suitability map. The results indicate that 43.82 km² (28.24%) of the study area is highly suitable for solid waste disposal, 61.25 km² (39.48%) is moderately suitable, while 50.08 km² (32.28%) is unsuitable due to environmental constraints such as steep slopes, proximity to water bodies, low elevations, and built-up areas. Fourteen (14) suitable locations were identified for future waste disposal facilities, whereas many (5 - 10) existing dumpsites were found to occupy environmentally vulnerable locations. The study demonstrates that GIS-MCDA is an effective decision-support tool for sustainable solid waste management by integrating multiple environmental and infrastructural factors into the site selection process. The findings provide valuable information for urban planners, environmental managers, and policymakers seeking to improve waste management systems and promote sustainable urban development in Gombe Metropolis.