The CHARACTERIZATION OF SOLID WASTE IN NNAMDI AZIKIWE UNIVERSITY, AWKA

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. Proper characterization of municipal solid waste is fundamental for the planning of
municipal waste management services. This study reports the characterization of solid waste in
Nnamdi Azikiwe University, it estimates the percentage of various components of solid wastes
generated from source. Solid waste samples were collected, classified and weighed at source
from four major sites in the university during the months of July, 2018- August, 2018. The
results showed that Organics had the highest percentage (30.5%), Polyethylene (24.33%), Plastic
(15.25%), Paper (14.73%), Metal (5.42%), Glass (3.79%) and others which include; ceramics,
Styrofoam, textile and wood (5.98%). Data generated was analyzed using descriptive statistics
and Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) at a significance level of 0.05 and there was a significant
difference (p ≤ 0.05) in the mean number of three of the seven waste categories classified in
different sampling plots, they were plastic, paper and polyethylene. The study concludes that
most of the waste generated in Nnamdi Azikiwe University could be composted. Suggestions for
effective management strategies and efficient policies for waste reduction, disposal and recycling
practices were offered in the sense of provision of colour coded waste bins at different locations
so as to ensure easy sorting of waste for collection and proper use and also enlightening
individuals of possibilities that exist in the complete utilization of a product.