Generation and composition of solid waste in low-income areas of Jos, Plateau State, Nigeria

Abstract

This study was carried out to determine the composition of solid wastes generated by some households in low-income areas of Jos Plateau State. Point source daily collection of household wastes from selected homes that were initially identified and categorized as low-income households were carried out for one week. The collected waste samples were weighed and sorted into food, ash/unburnt wood, plastic film/bags, fines, miscellaneous combustible, papers/cards, textiles, waste from electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE), glass, metals, dense plastic, garden waste and others. The components of these solid wastes were further classified into biodegradable (65.2%), recyclable (13.2%) and residual (21.6%). Biodegradable materials in the waste stream per household ranged from 1.7 kg to 18.3 kg per week. The recyclable materials produced by households varied from 0.4 kg to 2.9 kg and residual waste ranged from 0.6 kg to 6.0 kg per week. Urbanization and population growth are solely responsible for high increasing rate of solid wastes. The average household size found in the study area is 6.3 compared to an average household size of 4.6 Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey and 5.5 for Jos – Bukuru metropolis.