PROPOSAL ON SUSTAINABILITY ASSESSMENT OF MUNICIPAL SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT IN NIGERIA; PROBLEMS AND PROSPECT

Abstract

Municipal solid waste management constitutes one of the most crucial health and environmental problem facing African cities. Most cities spend 20-50% of their annual budget on solid waste management and only 20-80% of the waste is collected. This study examines the current status of municipal solid waste management within Federal Capital Territory Abuja (FCT Abuja) and aims to identify the current challenges and areas requiring improvement. The data collection is in stages, using an integrative approach via semi structured interview and field observations. The qualitative data was analyzed descriptively, while the quantitative data was analyzed using basic statistics. Bases on the finding it is concluded that municipal solid waste management is a serious issue due to its human health and environmental sustainability implications, that has yet to be properly address within the Nigeria.

INTRODUCTION

solid waste (SW) production is unavoidable, as a result of population growth, economic growth, rapid urbanization and the rise of human living standards, especially for developing countries due to incomplete institutional arrangements for solid waste management (SWM). SWM is one of the most challenging issues faced by developing countries. Due to incomplete institutional arrangement and improper handling of SWM, developing countries are suffering from serious pollution problems caused by growing quantities of SW, such as contamination of water, soil and atmosphere, negative impacts on human health, and its contribution to climate change. The sustainable management of SW will become necessary at all phases of impact from planning to design, to operation, and to decommissioning in the 21st century. Municipal Solid Waste Management (MSWM) is a globally challenging issue especially in developing countries, due to its adverse environmental effects (Zamorano et al., 2009; Jalil, 2010; Adekunle et al., 2011). Mankind naturally depends on the environment to sustain their lives but solid waste is one of the three major environmental problems (other major environmental issue include flooding and desertification) in Nigeria, many other developing and even the developed countries are threatened by this. It plays a significant role in the ability of nature to sustain life within its capacity. Most cities spend 20-50% of their annual budget on solid waste management and only 20-80% of the waste is collected (Achankeng, 2003). The standards of waste management is still poor and outdated in many developing countries, with poor documentation of waste generation rates and its composition, inefficient storage and collection systems, disposal of municipal wastes with toxic and hazardous waste, indiscriminate disposal or dumping of wastes and inefficient utilization of disposal site space. Improper solid waste management has contributed greatly to river pollution, also contributes to climate change. Rapid development, population increase and changes in consumption pattern have directly (and indirectly) resulted in the generation of enormous amount of waste, ranging from biodegradable to synthetic waste. The rapid population increase due to urbanization in Abuja metropolitan areas have caused difficulties for the state and local environmental protection agencies in providing an effective and efficient municipal solid waste management (Olanrewaju and Ilemobade, 2009). Urbanization affects land use and when not controlled causes the emergence of illegal structure and neighborhoods which is characteristic of some areas within the metropolis. This has ultimately affected the city plan, thereby affecting services such as; waste collection, which has eventually lead to illegal dumping. These illegal dumps with time have become mountain like open dumps in the middle of residential areas, with odours and rodent. These open dumps cause health risks and reduces the aesthetic value of the surrounding environments as well as contaminate natural resource. The rapid growing waste generation rates and high cost of waste disposal, depletion of landfill space and the problem of obtaining new disposal sites resulting in open dumping are unresolved issues. It has become necessity due to the above mentioned to have an overview and examine the current state and challenges with this regard. Abuja Environmental Protection Board (AEPB, 2012) have the sole responsibility of solid waste management in the Federal Capital Territory (Abuja-Citiserve, 2004). Only few state capitals have been able to put in place fairly sustainable urban waste management programs. It is therefore a common site to find mountains of waste scattered all over our cities for days or even weeks with no apparent effort displayed at getting rid of them within certain districts, even with the attendant risk of air and ground-water pollution. According to Tchobanoglous et al. (1993a) the term municipal solid waste normally is assumed to include all of the waste generated in a community with the exception of industrial process waste and agricultural waste; sources as residential, commercial, institutional, construction and demolition, municipal services excluding treatment facilities, treatment plant sites; municipal incinerators. In Nigeria municipal waste density generally ranges from 280-370 kg/m3 , Waste generation rate is 25 million tons annually and daily rate of 0.44-0.66 kg/capital/day (Ogwueleka, 2009). Waste generation and composition is greatly influenced by population, income, economic growth, season, climate and social behavior. In Nigeria waste stream generally consist of putrescribes, plastics, paper, textile, metal, glass. In FCT Abuja waste composition is heterogeneous and is mixed; non-degradable materials and degradable components. The waste is not segregated at the source or at any point during handling and comprises of hazardous and non-hazardous waste. The hazardous components usually consist of house hold cleaning agent and left over chemical from renovations

REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE

 Tanskanen (2000) developed and applied a computer model to study the Integrated Municipal Solid Waste Management in Helsinki Metropolitan Area (Finland). The model was developed for analyzing on-site collection systems of waste materials separated at the source. The study aimed at finding and analyzing separation strategies, fulfilling the recovery rate targets adopted for Municipal Solid Waste in Finland. Ni-Bin and Davila (2008) offered a unique Municipal Solid Waste investigation with regard to both physical and chemical characteristics illuminating the necessary management policies with greater regional relevancy. Zotos et al. (2009) developed a systematic approach for Municipal Solid Waste Management at both the household and nonhousehold level. It aimed at providing a framework in the Municipal Solid Waste Management field for municipalities in Greece, as well as other countries facing similar problems. Turan et al. (2009) presented a brief history of the legislative trends in turkey for Municipal Solid Waste Management; the study presented the Municipal Solid Waste responsibilities and management structure, together with the present situation of generation, composition, recycling and treatment. Bovea et al. (2010) compared from an environmental point of view different alternatives for the management of Municipal Solid Waste generation in a town within Spain. Tunesi (2010) analyzed local Waste Management strategic and management planning documents. In the study three different emerging energy recovery strategies where identified, with each energy recovery strategy resulting in different solutions in terms of technology selection. Ahiamadu (2007) carried out a comparative analysis on various Waste Management options, with emphasis on the health and environmental impacts of Municipal Solid Waste and the challenges confronting Municipal Solid Waste Management in Nigeria. Olanrewaju and Ilemobade (2009) researched on Ondo state Integrated Waste Recycling and Treatment Project in Nigeria, looking into the issue in terms of Municipal Solid Waste Management before and after the introduction of this system. They documented the success of the project in turning waste to wealth. Babayemi and Dauda (2009) evaluated the Solid Waste generation, categories and disposal option in developing countries. They used Nigeria as a case study; their study results indicated large generation at high rates without corresponding efficient technology to manage the waste. Onwughara et al. (2010a) studied the issues of road side disposal habit of Municipal Solid Waste in Nigeria. The study emphasized on various Waste Management options; Integrated Waste Management, environmental impacts under health, social effects and the legislation of extended producer responsibility were suggested. Several studies over the years have been carried out towards addressing these issues, different methods have been applied toward resolving different aspect of Solid Waste and Waste Management issues as a whole. This study looks into Municipal Solid Waste Management in the Federal Capital territory of Nigeria; FCT Abuja using Integrated Solid Waste Management System (ISWMS) as an assessment tool. This ensures that all system components which comprise of a Solid Waste Management are incorporated into the investigation. This study was conducted using one case study; FCT Abuja.

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