40

ASSESSMENT OF THE FACTORS INFLUENCING THE GENERATION AND DISPOSAL

OF URBAN HOUSEHOLD SOLID WASTE IN AFRICA: THE NIGERIAN PERSPECTIVE

Jonathan Ogwuche
1
and Funmilayo Alfa Yusufu
2
Department of Geography, Benue State University, Makurdi, Nigeria
College of Education, Akwanga, Nasarawa State, Nigeria
Email: tellfunmi@yahoo.com;ogwuche.Jonathan@yahoo.com

ABSTRACT
Urban household solid waste is a by-product of urbanization, population growth,
technological advancement, increase in consumption pattern, and globalization. These give
credence to waste generally as a multi-dimensional phenomenon. It therefore follows that
the proper and sustainable management of household solid waste within an urban area
requires the assessment of the factors that influence the generation and disposal of such
wastes, which is the aim of this paper. Using the correlation analysis and factor analytic
approach, this study established that the relationships among the significant assessment
variables such as residential area type, employment status, monthly income, and size of
waste generated and disposed are high, which indicate strong and positive relationships. The
study also identified 8 underlying factors that influence the generation and disposal of house
hold solid waste in Nigerian urban areas. Based on these, the study recommends for an
effective, sustainable and proper household solid waste management in Nigerian urban
areas, an integrated solid waste management system s the best option. KEY WORDS:
Household solid waste, waste generation, waste disposal, household socio-economy,
integrated solid waste management system.

INTRODUCTION
Waste is a global phenomenon that has attracted global concerns, particularly household
solid waste, in developing countries. Urban household solid waste, according to Senkwe and
Nwale (2001) are those wastes from human, animal and economic activities in the
household. These wastes could be solid organic substances that are biodegradable e.g. cash
crops, peels, grasses, vegetables, etc and inorganic substances that are non-degradable e.g.
plastics, bottles, metals etc. The generation and disposal of household solid waste have
become an increasing problem in urban areas due to increasing population, high density,
urbanization, industrialization, the inefficiency of the collecting systems, and lack of political
will on the part of the government. Akinsulire (2005) observed that recent events in major
cities in African countries have shown that the problems of waste management ha become a
monster that has thwarted most efforts made by international, federal and state
governments, as well as city authorities and professionals alike. The pursuit of environmental
sustainability is an essential part of human well being (UNEOP, 2004), and achieving it
requires carefully balancing human needs with maintaining functioning ecosystems and
curbing environmental pollution. This is the goal of safe and proper disposal and
management of solid waste (Westlake, 1995).
Volume 3, December 2011
2011 Cenresin Publications
www.cenresinpub.org
Journal of Environmental Sciences and Resource Management
41

The disposal of solid waste appears to defy any national solution in Nigeria, with the
indiscriminate dumping of waste on sewers, stream channels, open spaces, drainages, etc.
Improved solid waste management is therefore an important aspect of environmental
sustainability which would offer opportunities for income generation, health improvement and
reduced environmental vulnerability (WHO, 1997).
Household solid waste generation and management are generally unknown to government
officials, especially responsible agencies. Reliable data on household solid waste generation
and management are difficult to obtain, making it difficult to make companies between
different places. This situation makes planning of household solid waste management a very
difficult task in our urban areas. A good study of household solid waste requires the
assessment of the factors that influence the generation and disposal of wastes for a proper
and sustainable management of urban household wastes. There is therefore the need for a
proper study of the flow stream of waste (Beukring, Gerlagh and Kumar, 1999), which
encompasses the full range of activities from generation to find disposal (Beede and Bloom,
1995; Lardinois, 1996). This means that the factors influencing the activities in the flow
stream have to be investigated. This is what this paper has set out to achieve.
OBJECTIVES
Two main objectives of this study are:
To establish the strengths and nature of the interrelationship/correlates among the
assessment variables for this study, and
To identify the underlying factors that influence household solid waste generation and
disposal in Nigeria.

THE STUDY AREA
Nigeria is divided into 6 Geo-political zones, based on political, socio-cultural and
geographical contiguity. The zones and their composition are shown in table 1 as well as in
figure1.







Jonathan Ogwuche
1
and
Funmilayo Alfa Yusufu
2

Assessment of the Factors Influencing the Generation and Disposal of
Urban Household Solid Waste in Africa: The Nigerian Perspective
42

Table 1: The Geo-political Zones and Constituent States in Nigeria
S/No Zones Constituent States
1 South West Oyo, Osun, Ekiti, Ogun, Lagos.
2 South East Anambra, Enugu, Ebonyi, Imo, Abia
3 South South Edo, Delta, Rivers, Cross River, Akwa Ibom
4 North West Sokoto, Zamfara, Katsina, Kano, Jigawa, Kaduna,
Kebbi
5 North East Yobe, Borno, Bauchi, Taraba, Adamawa, Gombe,
Plateau
6 North Central Benue, Nassarawa, Kogi, Kwara, Niger
All the urban areas, especially the state capitals have the same socio-economic and
environmental characteristics and setting. Nigerian urban areas are as varied as they are
fascinating. They have two major residential area types formal and informal. The formal
residential areas depict greater evidence of planning, with some level of governments
presence of waste collection system. These areas house the highly placed citizens in the
society. The informal residential areas are the original residential and slum areas that form
the centre of the traditional setting of urban areas. They have high population density and
large concentration of the poor. There is no distinct areal differentiation of land-use
according to activity types. In addition to the dominant urban in these cities, middle income
people also reside there. The socio-economic hardships make them vulnerable to diseases
and epidemics, poverty and frequent feelings of frustration and discontentment. The
environmental implication of these situations is the emergence of a decayed physical
environment with little or no physical capital.
LITERATURE REVIEW
Urbanization and Solid Waste Generation
Cities are regarded as he most efficient agents of production (Hardoy, Mitlin and
Satherthwaite, 2001), with increase in population. This population increase compounds the
problems of solid waste management. The large migrant components of our cities and the
novelty of the urban culture create situations in which many of the cherished rural values and
cultural norms are abandoned whereas new urban values are not internalized but replaced by
the of (Hardily et al 2001). The relevance of this ambivalence to environmental quality is that
the cities are regarded more or less as a geographic no mans business. Worse still,
agencies responsible for managing solid wastes, especially in urban areas are either non-
existent or ineffective.
Urban land use becomes complex as the city grows in population and physical size and so
does the solid waste generation increase in volume an varieties. Urban land uses vary from
residential, commercial, industrial, institutional; and others, with each category generating its
own peculiar type of solid waste. However, residential land use constitutes the single most
important generator of solid waste in Nigeria urban areas (Adegoke, 1990). Because of the
Volume 3, December 2011 Journal of Environmental Sciences and Resource Management
43

complexity of the household wastes, the socio-economic structure of the urban population
becomes a major determinant of the spatial structure of solid waste problems in our cities.
Uwadeigwu (2003) in a study noted that the quantity of municipal solid waste produced
depends upon the living standard of he residents, urbanization and industrialization.
Okoye (2004) identified household size, income level, level of technological advancement and
socio-economic status as factors that affect the quantity of solid waste generation, but
however, noted that a single factor may not on its own constitutes a difference in the
quantity of waste generated by a household. Afon (2005), in a study of waste generation in
Oyo State, Nigeria discovered that as education, income and social status increase, per capita
waste generation declines. This, he explained is partly influenced by the differences in
employment/livelihood pattern n the area. On the main cause of solid waste crises in Nigeria,
Igbodobe and Anyata (2009) identity the problems of insufficient available data, funding,
poor understanding of solid waste management and residents attitude.
It is common for most of the solid waste generated in urban areas are collected and dumped
indiscriminately within or on sites outside the city without site preparation. Sule, (2001),
however, observes that the type of waste disposal method adopted in any particular area
depends largely on the prevailing local conditions such as availability of open space,
accessibility and attitude of the people. From a global perspective Ali, Cotton and Westlake
(1999) reiterate that disposal practice vary from city to city and country to country. As a
panacea, Dung-Gwon and Magaji (2007) advanced that enforcement of waste management
legislation is required as a proper policy and planning framework for waste management.
METHODOLOGY
This study is a survey research, designed to investigate the factors that influence the
generation and disposal of urban household solid waste in Nigeria cities. 6 urban areas were
selected, 1 each from each of the Geo-political zones of the country. A total of 240 household
were selected for this study, from the 6 Geo-political zones of the country. 40 respondents
each were randomly selected from each of 1 state capital purposively chosen from each of
the zones. Table 2 below shows the choice of the study areas.


Table 2: Sampled States from the Geo-political Zones of Nigeria

S/No Geo-political
Zones
Selected States Selected State
Capitals
Samples
1 South West Ekiti Ado Ekiti 40
2 South East Enugu Enugu 40
3 South South Cross River Calabar 40
4 North West Kaduna Kaduna 40
5 North East Bauchi Bauchi 40
6 North Central Nasarawa Lafia 40
Source: Field Work, 2010
Jonathan Ogwuche
1
and
Funmilayo Alfa Yusufu
2

Assessment of the Factors Influencing the Generation and Disposal of
Urban Household Solid Waste in Africa: The Nigerian Perspective
44

The choice of the selected urban areas and sample size were influenced by the homogeneity
of the socio economic and environmental characteristics prevailing in Nigerian urban centres,
though baring socio-cultural differences. Sixteen (16) assessment variables comprising of
socio-economic characteristics of the area were used in the questionnaire for this study. The
correlation analysis and factor analytic approach were used for data analysis. While the
correlation analysis was used to measure the strength and nature of the
interrelationship/correlates among the assessment variables, the factor analytic technique
was used to identify the underlying factors that influence the generation and disposal of
household solid waste in Nigeria.
RESULTS
The results of the correlations analysis showed positive high and significant correlations
between
a. Residential area type and
i. Employment status
ii. Income and size of waste generated
iii. Size of waste generated
b. Employment status and size of waste generated
c. Income and size of waste generated
d. Problems of indiscriminate waste disposal and willingness to pay for proper waste
disposal
e. Incidence of waste related illness and improper waste disposal.
Also, using the factor analytic approach, the 15 independent variables were reduced to 7
components that yielded the underlying factors that influence house sold waste generation
and disposal in Nigeria urban areas, the factors influencing generation are:
i. Social status of the household
ii. Economic status of the household
iii. Consumption pattern of household
The Factors Influencing Disposal are:
i. Knowledge of waste disposal method
ii. Availability of agency for waste management
iii. Residents perception of waste management agency
iv. Competency of waste management agency.
v. Access to approved dumpsite
The complexity of these factors indicates the multidimensional nature of municipal
households solid waste generation and disposal. The study further showed that residents of
high income are, usually the planned part of the urban areas with waste collection system,
generate more solid waste (because of their financial capability) than those in low income
residential areas, usually the unplanned or shun areas without any waste collection system.
The residents are aware of the dangers of indiscriminate disposal of solid wastes, but are
however dissatisfied with government (Local, State and federal) lack of concern for proper
waste management. The Nigerian urban poor nevertheless, show willingness to pay for
Volume 3, December 2011 Journal of Environmental Sciences and Resource Management
45

improved solid waste management system, so as to have a good healthy and conducive
living environment.
RECOMMENDATIONS
An integrated solid waste management system is recommended, for Nigerian urban areas
that take into account economic, social, environmental and institutional dimensions. This
system, as captured by Beukering, Sehkar, Gerlagh and Kumar (1999) provides the
framework for integrated solid waste management analysis (See Fig. 2)

















Fig 1: Framework for analyzing the concept of integrated solid waste management system.
Modified after Beukering et al (1999).
The framework, as recommended, is expected to be driven by the identified factors of this
study socio-economic characteristics of the residents, technology, governance, attitude of
the residents and the environmental setting of the location of the residents. This study has
therefore affirmed that the assessment and sustainable management of urban household
Management Options
- Prevention
- Recycling
- disposal
Stakeholder
- Government
- Waste processors
- Waste generators
Integrated Solid Waste Management
- Economic dimensions
- Surrounding Dimension
- Social Dimension
- Institutional dimension
Driving Forces
- Social
- Economic
- Environmental
- Governance
- Technology
- Attitude
Jonathan Ogwuche
1
and
Funmilayo Alfa Yusufu
2

Assessment of the Factors Influencing the Generation and Disposal of
Urban Household Solid Waste in Africa: The Nigerian Perspective
46

solid waste requires the analysis of the factors that influence solid waste stream, which
ranges from generation to disposal
REFERENCES
Akinsulire, A (2005). Waste Management in Nigeria Local Governments. International
Conference of Environment and Disaster, INCEED, Chartlotte, NC, U.S.A

Afon, A (2005). Solid Waste Generation in Selected Cities of Oyo State,
Nigeria. Unpublished Ph.D Thesis, Department of Urban and Regional Planning. OAU,
Ile Ife, Nigeria.

Ali, S.M, Cotton, A.P. and Westlake, K (1999). Down to Earth: Solid Waste
Disposal for Low Income Countries, WEDC, Loughbourogh University, UK

Adegoke, S.O (1999). Waste Management Within the Context of
Sustainable Development. Environment in Nigeria. Vol. 2. FEPA, PP 80-90

Beede, D.N and Bloom, D.E (1995). The Economics of Municipal Solid
Waste. The World Bank Research Observer, 10 (2), Pp 1-50

Beukering, P.V Seker, M. Gerlagh, R Kumar, V (1999). Analyzing Urban Solid Waste in
Developing Countries: A Perspective on Bangalore, India. Working Paper No. 24

Dung-Gwom, J.Y and Magaji, Y (2007). The Environmental Health Problems Associated with
Solid Waste Management in Gwagwalada-Abuja Abuja Journal of Geography and
Development Vol. 1, No. 1

Hardoy, J.E Mitlin, D Satterthwaite, (2001). Environmental Problems in
An Urbanizing World: Finding Solutions for Cities in Africa, Asia and Latin America.
Earthscan Publication Ltd. London.

Ibhodode, A Igbafe, O. and Anyata, B.U (2009). Solid Waste crisis in
Nigeria: A Case Study of the Constraints to Effective Private Sector Participation of
Solid Waste Management in Lagos Metropolis. Journal of Advanced Research
Methods, vol. 5, PP 763

Lardinois, I (1996). Intergrated Sustainable Waste Management: Concept
and Example from Latin America. Goudal, Netherlands

Uwadiegwu, S (2003). Solid Waste Management in Lokoja Metropolis. Greatest Cities
Journal, Canada. Vol 13. PP 1199-208

Sule, R.A (2001). Urban Environmental Pollution: A Critical Analysis. A
Volume 3, December 2011 Journal of Environmental Sciences and Resource Management
47

Synopsis Presented at the University of Calabar.

UNEP (2004). Human well-being, Poverty and Ecosystem Services: Exploring the Links.
UNEP,Nairobi, Kenya

WHO (1997). Subsistence Development: Five Years After the Earth Summit, Executive
Summary, Geneva

Westlake, K (1995). Sustainable Landfills: The Way Forward, Landfills Waste Pollution and
Control. Albrain Publishing Ltd

Jonathan Ogwuche
1
and
Funmilayo Alfa Yusufu
2

Assessment of the Factors Influencing the Generation and Disposal of
Urban Household Solid Waste in Africa: The Nigerian Perspective