Review on Solid Waste Generation and Management in Sub-Saharan Africa: A Case Study of Nigeria

Abstract

Nigeria just likes every other country in sub-Sahara Africa is faced with solid waste generation and management. Solid waste is dump indiscriminately and seen in huge heaps on any piece of unused land, around buildings, drainage system, institutions, playing ground, roads side, and in the open market places in major cities and towns. Living with solid wastes littered around seems to be an acceptable way of life among the people in this part of the world. This research work reported intensive review on solid wastes generation and management in this region using Nigeria as a case study. The application of knowledge of solid waste generation and management approach is crucial for inculcating a change of attitude towards improving the management of generated solid waste in this region. From the review, it was observed that biodegradable solid waste that can be managed via the biogas technology and landfill technology have the highest percentage fraction while the remaining fraction that comprised of non-biodegradable and combustible solid waste can be managed via other technology such incineration, gasification, pyrolysis, etc. Besides, the inefficient management of generated solid waste by individuals, households, institution, consumers and waste management companies can be attributed to inadequate information on waste management benefits, insufficient academic research and industry linkages, financial constraint, economic constraint, cultural constraint, lack of planning and projection, social constraint, lack of producers’ involvement in waste management as well as poor implementation of government policies and lack of comprehensive legal framework.

Keywords: Solid waste generation, solid waste management, biodegradable solid waste, combustible solid waste