Assessment of Solid Waste Management Practices in Higher Educational Institutions in Makurdi Metropolis Benue State, Nigeria

Abstract

This study examined solid waste management practices in higher educational institutions within the Makurdi Metropolis, Benue State, Nigeria. The study was conducted in three higher institutions, namely: Joseph Saawuan Tarkaa University, Makurdi; Benue State University, Makurdi; and Alfred Akawe Torkula Polytechnic, Makurdi. The study sampled 395 respondents covering all the solid waste generators (students, staff and school mini-market operators) using simple random and purposive sampling procedures. Descriptive statistical method such as frequency count, percentage, mean, standard deviation, skewness and kurtosis were employed in data analysis. The result revealed that the majority of respondents were male (69.9%), falling predominantly within the 18-40 age bracket (82.0%), and unmarried (70.7%). A substantial portion of respondents had educational backgrounds of NCE/ND or secondary school certificates (39.4% and 31.5% respectively), with 70.7% still actively pursuing their education and 71.0% earning less than or equal to N30,000.00 per month on average. Solid waste generating entities were identified, with school mini-markets (labour markets) being the primary contributors (37.7%), followed by offices/lecture halls (34.7%), students’ hostels (28.6%), and general school premises (26.8%). The dominant types of solid waste generated included organic waste such as food remnants (81.2%), papers (67.1%), and plastic waste (64.6%). The municipal waste management authority, BENSESA, was found to be directly responsible for managing 58.5% of the solid waste in the study area, while 20.07% and 17.1% indicated that solid waste was managed by contractors hired by the selected institutions and institutions’ waste management departments/units respectively. Regarding waste storage and collection facilities, 46.0% of respondents reported that their institutions lacked such facilities, and 61.0% mentioned waste being dumped at open temporary dumpsites. Waste collection and disposal services were also found to be lacking, with 35.1% indicating that their institutions did not have these services. The most prevalent methods of solid waste disposal were open dumping (75.3%) and burning (61.3%), indicating suboptimal waste management practices. Inadequate service coverage from BENSESA was identified as a major challenge with a mean score of 4.30. In conclusion, this study highlights the inadequate solid waste management practices in higher educational institutions in Makurdi Metropolis, resulting in uncollected and improperly disposed waste. This poses significant health and environmental risks to residents of these campuses. The study recommends several measures to address these issues, including the establishment and enforcement of waste segregation programmes, improving waste collection and disposal services, conducting awareness campaigns, enforcing waste management policies, and investing in waste disposal infrastructure.