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 [email protected] 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 493 Special Conference Edition, November, 2017 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 12 025 to grounds for pest that spread disease and 12 040N and longitude 8 035N to 8 045E. 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 Km 2within the Kano closed management making them particularly – settled zone compared to the National vulnerable (Nabegu, 2008). Some studies have average of 267 inhabitants per Km 2. 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 494 Special Conference Edition, November, 2017 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 80-90 oc 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.