PurposePurpose of this paper is to assess the municipal solid waste management (MSWM) system and resident practices towards municipal wastes in Dessie city of Ethiopia.Design/methodology/approachA cross‐sectional study was conducted in 2008 and the data were generated by using self‐administered questionnaire and personnel observations using checklists. MSW generation and composition at household level was calculated by sorting and weighing the wastes from ten houses consecutively for seven days.FindingsThe study revealed that Dessie municipality is mainly responsible for collection, transport and disposal of the wastes. Solid wastes generation rate at household level was found to be 0.45 kg/capita/day, having a high percentage of ash and food products. In total, 97 percent of respondents had knowledge about wastes and its management; however, the majority of them (73 per cent) believed that females are responsible for wastes management at household level. About half of the respondents (48 per cent) disposed their wastes near roadsides and vacant areas, in open sewers, bank of rivers and around bushes. Most of the respondents were not satisfied with the present service and 79 per cent of them were willing to pay service charges if there is house‐to‐house (primary) collection initiation by the local authority.Research limitations/implicationsDue to unavailability of laboratory equipment, moisture content and chemical composition was not analyzed for the collected wastes.Practical implicationsEnforcement of existing laws, composting and sanitary land filing can be feasible, useful and effective in the present situation in dealing with MSW problem.Originality/valueThe work identifies the gaps in the present MSWM system of Dessie City.