Assessment of municipal solid waste management practices in Jimeta-Yola Adamawa State Nigeria

Abstract

This paper presents an overview of the current solid waste management practices in Jimeta town and provides a brief discussion on the future challenges. Jimeta is the administrative headquarter of the Adamawa state. The population has been on a steady increase mainly due to influx of people and its strategic location along axial route linking major cities in the northeast region. Data for this study were obtained from the Adamawa State Environmental Protection Agency (ASEPA) and relevant literature. Records show that waste are neither sorted nor recycled but dumped in an open dumpsite 3 km away from the city. The performance of agency regarding waste evacuation from source of generation to final disposal point has improved but not been impressive from 2004 to date. Results shows that the agency performed below average as large tonnage of solid waste can be seen at designated dumpsites thereby blocking drainage channels and access road. Thus, 11,747 tons of solid waste was collected over the period of 4 years from 2004-2008. However, this figure increased to 16,151 tons in 2009-2013. This achievement was as a result of change in the leadership of the management team and better funding from the government. It is advocated that solid waste management should not be left in the hands of government agency alone. The public and related stakeholders should actively participate in the management of solid waste so as to have a functional environment for working, living and playing.