J. Bio. & Env. Sci. 2011 Journal of Biodiversity and Environmental Sciences (JBES) ISSN: 2220-6663 (Print) 2222-3045 (Online) Vol. 1, No. 6, p. 1-8, 2011 http://www.innspub.net OPEN ACCESS REVIEW PAPER Solid waste management in Minna, North Central Nigeria: present practices and future challenges Peter Aderemi Adeoye1*, Mohammed Abubakar Sadeeq2, John Jiya Musa2, Segun Emmanuel Adebayo2 1 Department of Biological and Agricultural Engineering, Universiti Putra, 43400 UPM Serdang, Malaysia 2 Department of Agricultural and Bioresources Engineering, Federal University of Technology, P.M.B. 65, Minna, Nigeria Received: 12 October 2011 Revised: 19 November 2011 Accepted: 20 November 2011 Key words: Solid waste, treatment, management and environment. Abstract This review presents a brief trend in Minna Municipal solid Waste (MSW) management. Municipal solid waste is a major environmental problem in Minna as in many developing towns. Although strict regulations on the management of solid waste are in place, primitive disposal methods such as open dumping and discharge into surface water are still being used in various parts of the town. The review also presents the MSW management structure together with the present situation of generation composition, collection, disposal and treatment. It also provides a brief discussion on the future challenges. Waste generation increases by more than 200% within two decades and increase in budgetary allocation is not proportional to the waste generation increase. The waste management agency did not have enough resources to tackle the ever increasing Municipal Solid Waste. The collection process is deficient in terms of manpower and vehicle availability. Bin capacity provided is inadequate and their locations were found to be inappropriate, thus contributing to the inefficiency of the system. At this time, no treatment is provided to the waste after collection. Under- estimation of waste generation rates and inadequate management and technical skills were also responsible for inappropriate waste management system in the town. *Corresponding Author: Peter Aderemi Adeoye  pheterhardey@yahoo.com 1 | Adeoye et al. J. Bio. & Env. Sci. 2011 Introduction countries today face the challenge of balancing Municipal solid waste management (MSWM) will economic growth with environmental progress. The continue to be a major challenge facing countries all indiscriminate dumping of MSW is increasing and is over the world. Especially for developing countries, compounded by a cycle of poverty, population where the amount of municipal solid waste (MSW) explosion, decreasing standards of living, poor has increased greatly due to rapid increase in urban governance, and the low level of environmental population (Adebayo et al, 2006). Meanwhile, with awareness .Hence, these wastes are illegally disposed limited resources, only basic technologies for of onto any available space, known as Open-dumps treatment and disposal, and deficient enforcement of (Izugbara and Umoh,2004). The collected waste is relevant regulations, serious problems remain for generally dumped on land in a more or less MSWM in developing countries, especially in regard uncontrolled manner. Such uncontrolled waste to safe disposal. The progress of modern civilization disposal not only creates serious environmental and the associated increase in population worldwide problems and affects human and animal health, but has contributed significantly to the increase in the also causes serious financial and socio-economic quantity and variety of waste generated (Anikwe and losses (Kalu et al, 2009). The potentials of residents Nwobodo, 2002). The increase in consumption of to generate waste have increased in recent times due resources has resulted in large amounts of solid largely to accelerated urbanization, and population waste from domestic activities and can lead to growth, which have elicited strong international significant threats to human health. Improper concerns about the possible environmental, health management of and safety effects of living in the vicinity of these environmental and solid waste serious their open-dumps. The only way to prevent this is to assess environmental effects include pollution of surface the level of waste generation, its management and subsurface waters, unpleasant odours, pest techniques and available disposal facilities. infestations, and objective of this paper is therefore to analyze some of and health has gas Mohammed, 2010). Due consequences, explosions (Ayo to inadequate The waste the strengths and deficiencies in the current MSW disposal, surface and groundwater are contaminated management system in Minna, a fast growing city in by leachate and the air is polluted by burning of North central Nigeria and propose feasible solutions. waste or uncontrolled release of methane from anaerobic waste decomposition (Sha’Ato et al, 2007). The hazards associated with improper solid waste disposal and the associated environmental health impact should therefore be of utmost concern to waste management experts. If waste pollution continues unchecked, it may lead to unprecedented health consequences (Chen and Fujita, 2010). Waste management is a global issue which needs maximum attention. In developing countries, waste management agencies lack the resources and trained Fig. 1. Map of Minna, Niger state, Nigeria. staff to provide their rapidly growing populations with the necessary facilities and services for solid Minna waste management to support good quality of life Minna, the capital city of Niger State, Nigeria has a (Pokhrel and Viraraghavan, 2005). Within the total population of approximately 506,113. The framework of sustainable development, developing average population density in Minna is about 3448 persons per km2 (UNDP/NISEPA, 2009). The 2 J. Bio. & Env. Sci. 2011 population growth in the city is higher than the of Minna climate, with rain season starts around average of the whole country because of its proximity April and last till October. The month of September to Abuja, the new administrative capital of the normally records highest rainfall. The mean monthly country. This shows that there may be a rapid temperature is highest in March and lowest in population inflow into the city, perhaps because of August (UNDP/NISEPA, 2009). job opportunities in Federal Capital Territory. However, more people means more waste, and more Waste waste means more resources needed for waste minna management, the rapid population inflow should be Solid waste in Minna is broadly classified into three considered in designing a waste management plan main categories: Domestic refuse (solid waste (Manaf et al, 2009). Being a small and densely generated by households, markets, food centers and populated town with a hot and dry climate, average commercial premises such as hotels, restaurants, temperature of 26.7- 35.3 0C, daily average humidity etc.). Industrial refuse (not including toxic and at 44.4%, and annual average rainfall of 1334 mm, hazardous waste) and Institutional refuse (solid Minna is potentially vulnerable to the outbreak of waste from various government installations like any infectious diseases. At the same time, rapid hospitals, schools and recreational facilities. Fig. 2 population growth continues to contribute to the shows the actual amount of solid waste disposed of in burden tonnes in the last two decades1987-2009 in Minna of solid waste disposal. Solid waste management in the town has traditionally been generation and characteristics in city (UNDP/NISEPA, 2009). undertaken by the Niger State Environmental Protection Agency (NISEPA). Minna is a multi- ethnic, multi-cultural, and multi-lingual society. Its economy was once exclusively based on agricultural commodities, and now it is still one of the world’s largest producers of maize, sorghum, beans, rice, yam and millet. Minna was made first headquarter of Chanchaga local government since the creation of Niger State in 1976, although it still maintain its status of headquarter of Minna municipal council Fig. 2. Waste Disposed of in Minna for the past two with all administrative and functional requirement of decades. a full pledge local Government. However when the defunct Chanchaga local government was moved to From Fig. 2, the total solid waste in 2009 was almost Kuta and named Shiroro local government, it then three times waste generated in 1987. Domestic solid gained her autonomy of local government in July waste has increased greatly over the years, from 1989. The creation of additional local government in 640tonnes to 1893tonnes in the years under review. 1991 saw the split of chanchaga local government This may be as a result of an increase in both into the three to have Paikoro and Bosso L.G.A in population and per capita waste generation rate due addition, Figure 1. The town lies on longitude 90371N to improved standard of living. The population was and longitude 60 331E, on geographical base of 152,603 in 1987 and 506,113 in 1997 therefore the undifferentiated basement complex rock of mainly average rate of domestic waste being disposed of was quiets and magnatile situated at the base of 0.238 kg/day in 1987 and 0.267 kg/day in 2007 per prominent hills in an undulating plain. The whole of capita Minna surrounding is very rock. The typical climate remarkable increase in industrial waste within the of the middle beet zone of Nigeria is a good reflection two decades as the town did not experience much 3 (UNDP/NISEPA, 2009). There is no J. Bio. & Env. Sci. 2011 industrial growth, from 200tonnes in 1987 to location of Institutions in the town within the two 377tonnes in 2009. The percentage increase in decades. It increases from 487tonnes in 1987 to institutional solid waste has increased. This was due 1150tonnes in 2009 (Ogwueleka, 2009). largely to heavy presence of federal Agencies and Table 1. Solid wastes composition in Minna between 1987 and 2007. Composition of wastes (%) year 1987 1992 1997 2002 2007 Food/Organic wastes 36.45 36.61 40.58 42.10 42.58 Paper/Textiles/Leather 24.65 25.61 22.83 22.05 21.09 Plastics 6.02 6.91 5.64 5.93 5.91 Construction debris 5.60 5.60 8.65 8.69 8.75 Wood 3.22 2.64 2.64 2.69 3.01 Horticultural wastes 4.53 1.96 2.03 2.01 2.05 Metals (Ferrous and non- ferrous 2.02 2.61 3.61 3.52 3.61 Sludge 0.09 0.07 1.20 1.45 1.49 Glass 1.02 1.04 1.15 1.14 1.11 Scrap tyres 0.44 0.61 0.94 0.94 0.87 Pampers/sanitary pads 5.26 6.58 7.59 7.59 7.84 Others 10.70 9.76 3.14 1.89 1.69 Table 2. Wastes composition for different districts in Minna. Waste Type (%) Districts Name and characteristics Chanchaga Bosso Tunga Maikunkele Kpakungu Shango Maitumbi Tudun fulani Food Remnants 51.14 56.40 53.41 49.61 53.22 49.61 49.36 49.26 Pampers/sanitary 6.41 5.69 5.66 5.39 6.21 4.36 4.84 4.16 Glass 5.91 4.33 6.41 6.29 5.62 5.16 5.44 7.01 Metals 7.92 6.41 6.54 6.23 6.43 6.44 6.41 6.33 Paper 2.46 5.61 3.44 4.49 2.46 1.46 1.23 3.99 Plastics 16.30 11.6 11.4 12.09 13.33 12.90 13.01 12.11 Wood 6.10 7.20 6.4 6.90 5.40 10.30 9.56 5.40 Others 0.76 2.76 6.74 9.00 7.33 9.77 10.15 11.74 Total 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 pads Table 2 presents the percentage distribution of solid in Phnom Penh city in Cambodia (Kum, et al, 2005). waste in Minna from1987 to 2009. Food waste Food waste accounts for about 37% of the total waste remains the highest portion, closely followed by streams and paper makes up 25%. Food and paper paper, and sanitary pads. The comparison of national waste in Kolkota was about 39.6 and 25.5% of its waste statistics may not be too simple a task, due to total solid waste respectively (Hazra and Goel, 2009). the difference in compositional classifications and There are about 68.0 and 48.7% of food and paper data gathering system, solid waste composition in waste respectively in Phnom Penh almost doubled Minna is quite similar to that in Kolkota, India the percentage in Minna. The differences in solid (Hazra and Goel, 2009), but vary slightly from those waste composition can then have a serious impact on 4 J. Bio. & Env. Sci. 2011 the techniques of solid waste management in sorting at site would have been an appropriate different method for collection (Osman, 2009). The bulk of the countries. Combustibility of a waste depends largely on its calorific values and varies non-degradable substantially depending on the source and the period materials, while the degradable materials could be of the year. Therefore, incineration cannot be composted. waste is potentially recyclable recommended generally for waste management unless the calorific properties of the waste are known Solid wastes collection system in Minna and it has to be site specific (Ogwueleka, 2009). Collection and transportation of waste is both labour and capital intensive. Waste transportation, Table 2 provides composition of the solid wastes including labour and machinery, accounts for produced in eight major locations in Minna. The between 70% and 80% of the total cost of solid waste main components are food residues, plastics, paper, management in Nigeria. (Imam et al, 2008). A glass bottles and metals. The table also shows that shortage of waste collection vehicles in Minna is due the plastic content is unusually high probably to lack of funding and inadequate maintenance. because it was wet, which increased the weight. Efficient collection depends on proper selection of Plastics mainly come from water and fruit juice bags vehicles; this needs to take account of road and containers. Much of this material is in small conditions, traffic density, availability of spare parts pieces, mixed types; wet, dirty and hence recycling and servicing requirements. Waste collection service may be difficult. The results of the analysis also show is available only in places where there are good that the generated waste in the city is largely organic roads. It was estimated that more than 35–40% of matter that can be composted. The waste is also the population in the city is without regular or heterogeneous in composition comprising of both adequate degradable and non-degradable materials, therefore efficiency of collection vary substantially from one area to collection efficiency and too much waste is left on the another (UNDP/NISEPA, 2009). Moreover, the streets of Minna. collection service and and the coverage, frequency transportation of waste to the dump-site has not been properly managed. Wastes that are light in The existing collection system should be replaced weight are clearly seen flying from the trucks during with a more efficient, but not more expensive system transport. This also contributes to the litter on without delay. Waste scattered from the collection streets. It seems that the collection service in the city trucks during transportation is due to the lack of is deteriorating, in many areas, the frequency of adequate cover during the trip. This can be alleviated collection has dropped from once a day to once every by covering the waste during transport especially if three days and collection times are quite variable. As the vehicle is travelling at more than 35 km/h. The a result of this more and more households carry their use of compactor trucks for the transportation of waste to the nearby dumpsites popularly known as waste as a means of enclosing waste during transport bolah inside waste-bags and thereby littering the may also be considered, a compaction vehicle is street during transport. The waste bags can also be designed for the waste volume reduction because on torn by scavenging animals and humans that search the average, such a vehicle will reduce the density of for something to eat searching for saleable materials. the waste to about 450–520 kg/m3 from the initial These activities usually scatter the waste that is ready density of 200–250 kg/m3. However, the compactor for collection, and this makes the job of the collection trucks are very expensive and require high operating crew even more difficult, as they have to shovel the cost and also complex additional maintenance, but scattered waste from the ground into the collection its usage will solve the problem of scattering of waste vehicle. This system leads to unacceptably low 5 J. Bio. & Env. Sci. 2011 during transportation to the dump-sites (Sarwoko, et general public has not been fully sensitized to al, 2007). participate actively in waste management issues. There is therefore a need for a greater public Waste disposal in Minna participation for better SWM in Minna city. The Solid wastes from the different collection system in environmental issues can be included in the school the various districts in Minna are transported to curriculum so that the concept of waste management various dump-sites at the outskirts of the city. Piles will grow with the students as they progress in life, of solid wastes are also found along roads, this underneath bridges, in generations. culverts and drainage will build human resources for future channels and in other open spaces. This practice should not continue environmentally environment because acceptable, unhealthy and and it is it unhygienic. not Future challenges makes The changes in lifestyle, particularly in the urban The areas, have led to more acute waste problems. The involvement of citizens in environmental sanitation situation is further worsened in the sub-urban areas is important, in Minna and of course in most and in slum areas with additional problems of Nigerian cities, every Saturday has been declared the closely-packed housing and traffic, where air and environmental sanitation day. Most people now water pollution are experienced. Indiscriminate commit this day to clean their local environment. dumping Civil servants now devote at least two hours a day in watercourses are the problems that are widespread, the week to cleaning their office premises. Through which are human contribution to a public health this measure, people are being made aware of the problem. need to clean environment. The environmental development are population explosion lack of sanitation day however causes problems, because infrastructure and environmental pollution as causes people have no means of disposing the waste and impacts. Wastes should be managed in such a collected. Vehicle owners parked the wastes in their way that our present and even coming generations car and dump them along the major roads leading will not be affected; this is because this environment out of Minna. Though people participate in this is not inherited from our ancestors but just borrowed cleaning up exercise, they should be educated on how from our offspring (Turan et al, 2009). Scavenging to dispose of the waste properly. activities should be discouraged. Soil cover should in open Thus, the places, access challenges of roads and sustainable also be utilized, and the landfill be constructed. It is still common in Minna to see people throw litter Recycling is still at zero level in Minna, nonetheless, from cars or motor vehicles into streets while with traveling and to see people in the parks leave litter on government should start to promote waste recycling the streets even though rubbish bins are situated by drafting policies and offering support to private within walking distance. This is really a lack of waste management companies. Waste minimization responsibility and has a negative effect on the will remain to be one of the major future challenges; environment. People at times deliberately dump their it therefore needs to be implemented more strictly. waste into open channels thinking that it will be Currently, there is no limitation on the amount of carried away by rainwater, not understanding the solid waste that may be generated; minimization of clogging and pollution problem this may cause. In residential solid waste will continue to be difficult the medium or higher income areas, the situation is a until the regulation of Pay-As-You-Throw is fully bit better people leave their waste inside plastic bags implemented. Environmental protection campaigns along the streets but these bags of waste become should also be frequently launched, with the media scattered by scavengers. This also shows that the always 6 increasing playing environmental an important awareness; role. the Biological J. Bio. & Env. Sci. 2011 treatment as should be only one major disposal area and should be composting and anaerobic digesting, has played an of organic solid wastes, such operated as sanitary landfill site, this, though important role in many other countries. Food waste, expensive, will be needed to eradicate littering the for example, accounted for about 37% of the total roadsides with rubbish. solid waste in Minna but only 2.3% of it was recycle (Solomon, 2009). Non-toxic contaminated food Acknowledgements waste should therefore be separated for biological We hereby acknowledge the assistance of Niger State treatment. This will reduce the energy consumption Environmental Protection Agency (NISEPA) and and cost needed for the incineration of food waste Niger State Ministry of Environment in preparing which is high in moisture content. Composted food this paper. waste can then be used for agricultural activities. Conclusions and recommendations References It is widely accepted that solid waste management Adebayo WO, Bamisaye JA, Akintan OB, issues should be addressed from a system perspective Ogunleye OS. 2006. Waste generation, disposal by taking into account the technological, financial, and management techniques in an urbanizing institutional, legal, and socio-cultural factors to environment: A case Study of Ado-Ekiti, Nigeria. determine Research Journal of Applied Sciences 1(4), 63-66. appropriate policies for the local surroundings (Salim, 2010). Rapid urbanization and population explosions tremendous Anikwe MAN, Nwobodo KCA. 2002. Long term increase in solid waste generation in Minna. effect of municipal waste disposal on soil properties Appropriate storage systems at the sources of waste and productivity of sites used for urban agriculture in generation should be introduced into the waste Abakaliki, Nigeria. Bioresource Technology 83(3), management 241-250. system has in caused the city. Regulations regarding littering and improper disposal of solid waste should be formulated, and stiff penalties Ayo B, Ibrahim B, Mohammed RM. 2010. The should be imposed on defaulters. Public awareness practice and challenges of solid waste management about the environment should be increased through in Damaturu, Yobe state, Nigeria. Journal of environmental Environmental Protection 1, 384-388. education so that the public participation in SWM will improve. A source reduction program should be encouraged and Chen X, Geng Y, Fujita T. 2010. An overview of promoted because it is a way to address waste municipal solid waste management in China. Waste prevention. It is clear from government and general Management 30(4), 716-724. public actions that there is a need to have a clean environment. Many things still need to be done to Hazra T, Goel S. 2009. Solid waste management ensure proper waste management. The campaign on in Kolkata, India: Practices and challenges. Waste environmental sanitation should be strengthened, it Management 29(1), 470-478. should be inculcated into daily life of every citizen, the number of people employed in environmental Imam related jobs are so few that they cannot cope with the Cheeseman, CR. 2008. Solid waste management volume of waste generated, more people should be in Abuja, Nigeria. Waste Management 28(2), 468- employed, cleaning up exercise should not be limited 472. to when an important personality is visiting the city, Izugbara CO, Umoh JO. 2004. Indigenous waste it should be continuous and permanent. There management 7 A, Mohammed practices B, among Wilson the Ngwa DC. of J. Bio. & Env. Sci. 2011 Southeastern Nigeria: some lessons and policy Salim implications. The Environmentalist 24(2), 87-92. management in Dar Es Salaam city, Tanzania. Waste CJ. 2010. Municipal solid waste Management 30, 1430-1432. Kalu C, Modugu WW, Ubochi I. 2009. Evaluation of solid waste management policy in Sarwoko M, Agus PP, Alim FR, Ananto YS, Benin metropolis, Edo State, Nigeria. African Muhammad S. 2007. Priority improvement of Scientist, 10(1), 117-125. solid waste management practice in java. Journal of Applied Science in Environmental Sanitation 2(1), Kum V, Sharp A, Harnpornchai N. 2005. 29-34. Improving the solid waste management in Phnom Penh city: a strategic approach. Waste Management Sha’Ato R, Aboho SY, Oketunde FO, Eneji IS, 25(1), 101-109. Unazi G, Agwa S. 2007. Survey of solid waste generation and composition in a rapidly growing Manaf LA, Samah MAA, Zukki NIM. 2009. urban area in Nigeria. Waste Management 27, 352- Municipal solid waste management in Malaysia: 358. Practices and challenges. Waste Management 29(11), 2902-2906. Solomon US. 2009. The state of solid waste management in Nigeria. Waste Management, 29, Ogwueleka TC 2009. Municipal solid waste 2787-2790. characteristics and management in Nigeria. Iranian Journal of Environmental Health Science and Turan NG, Atoru S, Akdemir A. Ergun ON. Engineering 6(3), 173-180. 2009. Municipal solid waste management strategies in Turkey. Waste Management 29(1), 465-469. Osman NA. 2009. Comparison of old and new municipal solid waste management systems in UNDP/NISEPA. 2009. Niger state framework for Denizli, Turkey. Waste Management 29(1), 456-464. integrated sustainable waste management. Niger State Strategic Waste Management Framework. Pokhrel D, Viraraghavan T. 2005. Municipal solid waste management in Nepal: practices and challenges. Waste Management 25, 555-562. 8