# Extracted text from kano_msw_composition_afuno_rabiu_2017.pdf

Special Conference Edition, November, 2017
http://dx.doi.org/10.4314/bajopas.v10i1.94S
Bayero Journal of Pure and Applied Sciences, 10(1): 493 - 497
ISSN 2006 – 6996
CHARACTERIZATION AND COMPOSITION ANALYSIS OF MUNICIPAL
SOLID WASTE IN KANO, NIGERIA
Salamatu A. Afuno and Safianu Rabiu
1Department of Biological Science, Bayero University, 1 Gwarzo Road,
P.M.B 3011, Kano 700241, Nigeria
zakirai@gmail.com
ABSTRACT
Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) is produced through human activities and in the last two
decades, management of MSW has become a major concern due to considerable increase in its
production. The amount of MSW produced increases with economic growth and this demands
for efficient solution. This paper reports the characterization and composition analysis of
MSW in Kano metropolis. Solid waste samples were collected and analysed from the four
major dumpsites in Kano metropolis during the months of September, 2016- January, 2017.
The results showed that light plastic had the highest mean values of 8.63kg/50kg sample,
Organics 7.22kg/50kg, Heavy plastic 4.15kg/50kg, Fabric 3.91kg/50kg, paper 2.70kg/50kg,
metal 2.05kg/50kg, glass 1.89kg/50kg, Bone 1.47kg/50kg, styrofoam 0.19kg/50kg, others
1.06kg/50kg and wood -0.25kg/50kg. There was significant correlation between estimated
population and volume of trash collected. We offered suggestion for effective management
strategies and efficient policies for waste reduction, disposal and recycling practices.
Keywords: Waste Characterization, Municipal Solid Waste, Waste Composition, Kano, Nigeria
INTRODUCTION - income area produce relatively more of
Solid waste is broadly comprised of non- organic waste. Uncontrolled or improperly sited
hazardous domestic, commercial and industrial open solid waste dumpsites constitute health
refuse including household organic waste, hazards and damage the aesthetic beauty of
hospital and institutional garbage, street many cities in Nigeria (Napoleon et al., 2011).
sweepings and construction waste (Zerbock It has been estimated that Kano Municipal
2003). Domestic solid waste includes all wastes generates about 156.678 tones of solid waste
generated in the community and generally per month and with a population of about
includes food scraps, containers and packaging, 3,242,700 the per capita solid waste generation
discarded durable and non durable goods, yard is about 0.56kg/capita/day (Ogwueleka, 2009).
trimmings, miscellaneous inorganic debris and This makes Kano city second to Lagos in terms
often construction and demolition debris. of waste generation in Nigeria. Waste
Municipal solid waste (MSW) consists of characterization data consists of information on
domestic waste generated by urban residents the types and amount of materials (which
(household) with addition of commercial wastes includes food waste, yard trimming, paper,
but typically excludes industrial hazardous glass, etc) in the waste stream.
waste and domestic sewage sludge (James, Characterization of municipal solid waste is a
1997). MSW includes durable goods, non- fundamental component in proper planning of
durable goods, containers and packaging solid waste management in any urban city. It
wastes, food wastes and yard trimmings and helps in determining the quantity of waste
miscellaneous inorganic wastes. Thus MSW is an generated in a particular location at a
accumulation of rejects from household, particular time of the year. Nigeria with a
market women, trades, shop owners and other population of 140 million (2006 census)
commercial activities in the urban areas (US generates about 25million tones of MSW per
EPA 2011). annum with a generation ranging from
The composition and characteristics of MSW is 0.44kg/Capita/Day - 0.66kg/Capita/day. Solid
influenced by certain factors which includes the waste management has emerged as one of the
area (residential, commercial etc) the greatest challenges facing state and local
economic level (differences between high and government environmental protection agencies
low incomes area) season and weather in Nigeria. Solid Waste Management in Nigeria
(difference in the amount of population during is characterized by inefficient collection
the year, tourist places and culture of people method, insufficient coverage of the collection
living or doing business in the area). High system and improper disposal of the waste
income areas usually produce more inorganic (Ogwueleka, 2009).
materials such as plastics and paper, while low
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In Kano metropolis like most cities in the MATERIALS AND METHODS
developing world several tones of municipal Study area:
solid waste is left uncollected on the streets Kano is the largest city in the Sudan Region of
each day, clogging drains, creating feeding Nigeria. It is located between latitude 12025 to
grounds for pest that spread disease and 12040N and longitude 8035N to 8045E. Kano city
creating a myriad of related health and has for centuries been the most important
infrastructural problem. A substantial part of commercial and industrial nerve centre of
the urban resident in the old city and sub urban Northern Nigeria attracting millions from all
informal settlements of Kano metropolis also parts of the country and beyond. Immigration
has little or no access to solid waste collection and natural growth rate of 3% is expected to
services. This is due to lack of proper land use continue to increase the population and waste
planning which resulted in creation of informal stream in the years to come. With a population
settlement with narrow streets that makes it presently estimated at 3.5milliom, Kano
difficult for collection trucks to reach many metropolis is among the fastest growing cities
areas. The result is that a large portion of the in Nigeria. With a population density of about
population is left without access to solid waste 1000 inhabitant per Km2within the Kano closed
management making them particularly – settled zone compared to the National
vulnerable (Nabegu, 2008). Some studies have average of 267 inhabitants per Km2. It also has
been carried out on waste management in Kano a large migrant worker population which has
metropolis. Saleh (2008) studied the been increasing at the rate of 30 to 40 percent
contributions made by scavengers and showed per annum (UNDP 2004).
that over 25, 000 people are directly involved Sampling Sites:
in the activity and that 15% of municipal solid Locations of waste disposal in the four
waste that would have gone into the municipal government designated dumpsites within the
solid waste stream is removed by them. metropolis; namely Court Road, Hajj Camp,
Recycling has been viewed as a veritable tool in Ubagama and Maimalari are shown in (fig 1).
minimizing the amount of household solid Court road dumpsite constitutes waste from
wastes that enter the dump sites. It also various collection centers mostly residential
provides the needed raw materials for and service from some parts of Tarauni,
industries. According to them, it has been Kumbotso and Nassarawa local government
established that it is the best, efficient method areas. Hajj Camp dumpsite constitute waste
of solid waste management system. However, from residential, industry and service
this may not be cost effective in developing neighborhoods. These come from collection
countries like Ghana (Momoh and Oladebeye, centres from parts of Fagge, Nassarawa, Dala
2010, United State Environmental Protection and Gwale Local Government Areas. While
Agency, 2011, Bundela et al., 2010). Maimalari dumpsite serves industrial, service
The objectives of this paper were to determine and also residential area from parts of
the categories of waste trash items, the volume Nassarawa, Fagge and Gwale Local Government
and mass of trash and any relationship between Areas. Ubagama being the smallest in term of
trash volume and population size estimates in tonnage serves some parts of Dala, Kano
the selected communities of Kano Municipality. Municipal Council and Gwale Local Government
Areas.
A B
C
D
Fig 1: Specific dumpsites sampled
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stereofoam, organics (which comprises of waste
Thus, because of the mix in thrash sources, the that comes from plants or animals sources such
waste in the four dumpsites do not quite reflect as food waste, fruits and vegetables peel,
social or material status. grass, etc) and others. Each category was
Sample Collection and Waste Characterization placed inside a labelled plastic container and
Data for waste dumps in Kano metropolis and was weighed. The sample was then taken to the
other related documents were obtained from laboratory where some of the categories;
Kano State Refuse Management and Sanitation organic, paper and fabric were put in oven for
Board (REMASAB). Estimated human population drying at 80-90oc for 48hrs after which the
data was obtained from National Population sample was allowed to rest for 2 days (cooling
Commission. time). After cooling, the sample was again
Characterization of waste was carried out weighed and its dry mass was recorded. The
according to the American Society for testing remaining categories that had no moisture
and materials (ASTM, 1998). Five samples content were air dried, and dry mass taken.
(randomly collected) of 10kg each, totaling This procedure was carried out for samples
50kg of solid waste sample were collected taken from each visit (five visits) for each of
during each of four sampling periods from each the four dumpsites for the duration of six
of the dumpsites. The samples were then months.
sieved to remove sand, followed by hand
picking in order to remove stones which would RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS
not pass through the sieves, after which the Mean dry mass per 50kg of 20 samples from
sample was spread on a 2X3 Meter polythene each of the four sampling sites are given in
sheet before sorting into eight different table 1. The values ranged from 3.32kg/50kg at
categories namely: plastic (light and heavy Ubagama to 4.20kg/50kg at Hajj Camp site
plastic), metal, glass, paper, fabric, (Table 1).
Table 1: mean dry mass per 50kg of 20 samples from each of the study sites.
Site Mean Mass SE Mean
Court Road 3.92 0.83
Hajj Camp 4.20 1.24
Maimalami 3.33 0.52
Ubagama 3.32 0.38
The mean values of dried thrash category items appeared that certain categories of trash had
are compared in table 2. Items with differing significantly greater mass than others, a finding
letters were significantly different. These consistent with similar studies (Bundela et al.,
include light plastics, glass and metals. It 2010; Saleh, 2008)
Table 2: Tukey Pairwise Comparisons: Category Grouping Information Using the Tukey Method and
95% Confidence
Category N Mean Grouping
Light Plastic 15 8.63482 A
Organics 15 7.22186 A B
Heavy Plastic 15 4.15487 A B
Fabric 15 3.91482 A B
Paper 20 2.70187 A B
metal 5 2.05767 A B
Glass 18 1.89483 B
Bone 5 1.47778 A B
Others 1 1.06670 A B
Metal 10 0.52652 B
Styro form 6 0.19453 A B
Wood 4 -0.25118 A B
Means that do not share a letter are significantly different.
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A regression plot for trash volume and (P<0.05) positive and significant. A general
populations size is given in fig 2. regression for trash volume versus population
Pearson correlation for 2016 population estimates was also significant (f = 9.69; P<0.05)
estimates versus trash volume was 0.60
S 6075.38
30000 R-Sq 36.3%
R-Sq(adj) 32.6%
25000
20000
15000
10000
5000
0
100000 150000 200000 250000 300000
EST 2016 POPULATION
Fig 2: Regression for monthly Trash Volume and 2016 populations estimated
Table trash, category and site of collection on differences had no effect on thrash mass (Table
mean dry mass of the trash. Only the type of 3).3 shows results from the robust general
trash (category) appeared to have any influence linear model for analysis of variance for the
on dry mass of the trash. Months and site effect of month
Table 3: General Linear model: Analysis of variance-dry mass versus months, category and site
Source DF Adj SS Adj MS F-Value P-Value
Time/Month 4 73.14 18.28 0.76 0.553
Category 17 995.82 58.58 2.44 0.003
Site 3 74.10 24.70 1.03 0.383
Error 129 3101.90 24.05
Lack-of-Fit 96 2667.22 27.78 2.11 0.008
Pure Error 33 434.68 13.17
Total 153 4214.44
Population size had impact on the composition neighborhoods were mixed up in the same site.
of wastes as shown in figure 2. Such Moreover, scavengers had probably done away
correlations have been noted by Ogwueleka with some desired items soon as the trash was
(2009). Thus, trash volume can be predicted dumped. That sites or months made no
based on population size. significant difference in trash volume received
The absence of significant differences in thrash which might probably be as a result of trash
composition or mass between the months shifting by the authorities for the purpose of
showed the absence of seasonal differences in landfilling.
people’s consumption habits. There were no
differences amongst the different CONCLUSION
neighborhoods in respect to trash volume The characteristics and composition analysis of
generated. (Table 1) municipal solid waste in Kano metropolis was
According to Zurbrugg (1999) waste generation conducted in the four major dumpsites serving
is conditioned to an important degree by eight metropolitan local government areas. The
people’s attitude towards waste especially results showed that light plastic had the highest
their patterns of material use and waste mean values of 8.63kg/50kg sample, Organics
handling; their interest in waste reduction and 7.22kg/50kg, Heavy plastic 4.15kg/50kg, Fabric
minimization; the degree to which they 3.91kg/50kg, paper 2.70kg/50kg, metal
separate wastes and extent to which they 2.05kg/50kg, glass 1.89kg/50kg, Bone
refrain from indiscriminate dumping and 1.47kg/50kg, styrofoam 0.19kg/50kg, others
littering. We could not establish similar 1.06kg/50kg and wood -0.25kg/50kg.
observation because trash from different
HTNM
REP
LOV
HSART
Fitted Line Plot
TRASH VOL PER MNTH = - 763 + 0.05816 EST 2016 POPULATION
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through enlightenment campaigns to encourage
The result clearly suggests the need for more people to cooperate in waste separation before
effective management policy for solid waste, disposal and also encourage them to purchase
the need to put it to some use by recycling or recycled products. Participation of private
reducing it. There is really a need for policies firms in collection, processing and disposal of
for waste reduction, disposal and recycling waste is also recommended.
practices. Waste recycling can be promoted
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