SOLID WASTE SEGREGATION AS A STRATEGY FOR IMPROVED WASTE MANAGEMENT

SOLID WASTE SEGREGATION AS A STRATEGY FOR IMPROVED WASTE MANAGEMENT

CHAPTER ONE

1.0 Introduction

The research study is introduced in this chapter. It provides the study’s background, problem statement, research questions, scope and significance, definition of terms, and study organization.

1.1 The Study’s Context

Solid waste management practices are an essential component of human settlements’ environmental infrastructure. These practices include all activities carried out from the time waste is generated until it is disposed of. In most African cities, solid waste management is ultimately the responsibility of municipal councils, whereas in most rural areas, waste is handled and disposed of at the household level (Frank, 2006). Solid Waste Management (SWM) is a major environmental issue, particularly in municipalities in many developing countries that have been plagued by environmental issues.

According to Alamgir, Donald, Roehl, and Ahsan (2005), urban population growth and economic development should be considered key issues for Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) generation. Increasing unplanned urbanization, combined with the user mindset of ‘out of sight, out of mind’ wastes, is one of the factors driving up solid waste production while also intensifying environmental pressures, including unorganized waste disposal in many municipalities. In many cases, SWM is discovered to be a major concern for the municipalities and towns of many countries, including Nigeria (ADB, 2012).

Waste segregation is the act of categorizing waste as dry or wet. Dry waste consists of hard materials such as wood and related products, metals and glass, and so on.

Wet waste is typically defined as liquid or organic waste generated by restaurants that is heavy in weight due to dampness.

Waste generation is increasing, and a significant portion of it is disposed of on improperly located and operated dumpsites, with disastrous consequences for the environment and health. Furthermore, Mtey (2005) and Vincent (2000) report that one-third to one-half of the solid waste generated in most low and middle-income cities is not collected. They usually end up as illegal dumps on streets, open spaces, and wetlands, with disastrous consequences for flora and fauna. According to the Ministry of Infrastructure, solid waste management must be strengthened through national policy and regulatory framework to address environmental concerns.  As a result, Abuja’s waste still contains 70% organic, biodegradable waste, and in rural areas, the proportion of waste exceeds 95%. Waste sorting, composting, and recycling activities have been ongoing since the beginning, and Nigeria has only recently begun to invest in environmentally safe landfills. The operating dumpsite receives approximately 400 tons of solid, unsorted waste per day, or 140,000 tons per year (MININFRA, 2013). Deep-seated fires, methane explosions, landslides, and leakages threatening rivers and groundwater are some of the common environmental threats posed by such basic dumpsites (Hogan, 2004). According to current thinking, poor waste management is largely the result of existing institutions’ failure to adequately address waste problems (Yekeen, 2010). Any initiative is welcome. Building capacity by urban institutions must become more appealing and conducive to environmental protection. Capacity must be weighed and understood at all levels, formal and informal, to aid capacity building, followed by capacity assessment, which is concerned with identifying existing capacity and determining what additional capacity is required to get things done (NUDB, 2008; Yekeen, 2010).

1.2 Statement of the problem

The management of solid waste is the most visible environmental problem confronting Nigeria, and it is taking on a concerning dimension as the country’s urbanization rate increases. Despite rapid population growth, areas such as Abuja have never had a clear Master plan to re-organize planning and settlement since the colonial era. This has put strain on the infrastructure, resulting in a slew of complex settlement issues, most notably waste management, where the solid waste problem is visible in most parts of the area’s urban centers; on the roads, within neighborhoods, and around residential buildings, and in various urban areas. Failure to address waste management issues is expected to result in a slew of social and environmental problems.

1.3 Purpose of the study

The goal of this study was to evaluate solid waste segregation as a waste management strategy in Abuja.

1.4 Particular goals

To assess the current state of solid waste collection, transportation, and disposal practices in Abuja.

To investigate the magnitude of Abuja’s solid waste management issues.

To investigate the issues surrounding solid waste segregation in Abuja.

To develop strategies to address Abuja’s solid waste segregation challenges.

1.5 Research questions

The following research questions were used to achieve the aforementioned objectives:

What is the current state of Abuja’s solid waste collection, transportation, and disposal practices?

What are the magnitudes of Abuja’s solid waste management issues?

What are the difficulties associated with solid waste segregation in Abuja?

What are the design strategies for overcoming the challenges of solid waste segregation in Abuja?

1.6 Significance of the study

To a large extent, solid waste management efficiency is determined by how different actors perceive the danger and benefit of keeping the environment safe, as well as their capacity, as well as the commitment of the public and private sectors, as well as the involvement and participation of the communities themselves in supporting the overall concept. It also relies on useful information and lessons learned from current best practices in the delivery of this critical service. Such information and lessons can only be obtained through research and studies; thus, this research can help to improve and perform solid waste management in urban settlements, as well as identify opportunities for future strategic development in the field of solid waste management. This research is particularly beneficial to the various stakeholders such as planners, administrators, and private waste collectors, and in some way contributes to future policy interventions in the solid waste management sector of Abuja and Nigeria in general.

1.7 Scope of the study

The research focused on solid waste segregation as a method for improving waste management in Abuja, examining practices from generation to disposal. It investigated solid waste collection, transportation, and final disposal by criticizing the magnitude of solid waste management problems and then designing strategies for overcoming challenges, as the increase in solid waste production is significant and can be one of environmental considerations.

1.8 Definition of key terms Wastes

This study employs the UNEP (2002) definition of waste, which defines waste as substances or objects that are disposed of, are intended to be disposed of, or are required to be disposed of by national law. This definition is also consistent with Mugambwa and Kizito (2009) and Mukisa (2009), who define waste as items, materials, or substances that people consider useless at a given time and place. Typically, the definition of waste is determined by the types or categories of waste under consideration, as well as the characteristics of the waste. Municipal waste, solid waste, hazardous waste, and electronic waste are some of the most common types of waste.

Waste that is solid

For the purposes of this study, solid waste is referred to as garbage; organic and inorganic waste materials are included.

that are normally solid produced by households, commercial, institutional and industrial activities that have lost value in sight of the initial users.

Solid municipal waste

According to Schubeler (1996) and Cointreau-Levine and Coad (2000), municipal solid waste includes refuse from households, non-hazardous solid waste from industrial, commercial, and institutional establishments, market waste, yard waste, and street sweepings, but excludes excreta, unless mixed with solid waste. It is important to note, however, that in developing countries, distinguishing between excreta and solid waste becomes difficult, if not impossible. In many cases, solid waste combines with excreta to the point where it is potentially hazardous to human health (Schubeler 1996).

Solid waste disposal

This research defines solid waste management as garbage collection, transportation, processing, recycling, or disposal practices (Mugambwa and Kizito, 2009). It is important to recognize that waste management practices differ between developed and developing countries, urban and rural areas, and residential and industrial producers. The volumes and types of solid waste generated by the various waste sources justify the disparity in waste management practices. As a result, it implies that the methods appropriate in one setting may differ from those appropriate in another. Felix (2010) identifies waste generation, waste storage, collection, and transportation as key components of solid waste management.

1.9 Organization of the study

The research is organized into five chapters. The first chapter introduces the study and provides background information. The second chapter examines related and relevant literature. The research methodology is presented in chapter three, and the data analysis and interpretation are presented in chapter four. The study comes to a close with Chapter 5, which covers the summary, conclusion, and recommendation.