MANAGEMENT OF SOLID

WASTE IN LAGOS STATE

A Case study of Caleb University, Imota

BUILDING SERVICES: ARC 361

LECTURER: ARC. LAOYE

KEHINDE OLAOLUWA 18/4828

dante4live@yahoo.co.uk
ABSTRACT
Waste and inappropriate waste taking care of is a huge test to developing nations in the previous
decade. Studies demonstrate that ill-advised transfer of waste has brought forth high rate of
dreariness and mortality in a developing society.

Waste is commonly known to be created from scope of human and creature activities,
production procedures to utilization stage and the administration of waste has been a noteworthy
issue in developing nations where generation of waste per unit of yield is a lot higher than that in
the developed nations in light of inefficiency in assembling processes.

Furthermore, corruption at all levels in the society is another major predicament toward
sustainable development and effective integrated waste management system in Nigeria. Proper
awareness of the citizen toward economic value of waste produced by them can contribute
immensely to the proper handling of waste by the people and it will create a greener
environment, employment opportunities and generate revenue to the government.

This paper therefore aims to review the management of solid waste, in order to establish
sustainable and effective waste management and also to discuss options to reuse, recycle and
reduce waste generation in Caleb University.
INTRODUCTION
Development is incomplete without sustainability. Therefore, it is highly important in a place,
organization or any form of habitant. As a result of the need for sustainability, there comes the
emergence of turning waste to wealth for the benefit of the population.

In today’s world, University communities can be regarded as ‘‘mini cities” with large territorial
coverage, diverse human activities, these having different degrees of effect on the environment
(Alshuwaikhat and Abubakar, 2008). Nigerian Universities in Oyo and Lagos state for example,
have been said to act as their own municipalities (Adeniran, 2014, 2015). The Universities and
Colleges are required by state and international bodies to adopt sustainable development
strategies in all their operations in order to have a positive impact on the socio–economic and
environmental wellbeing of their immediate and extended communities. The importance of
Universities in promoting sustainable development has been highlighted in a number of
significant declarations, including the Talloires Declaration (1990), the Halifax Declaration
(1991), the Swansea Declaration (1993), the Kyoto Declaration (1993), the Copernicus Charter
(1993), Students for a Sustainable Future (1995), (IISD, 2002) and (Greyson, 2007,).

An integrated waste management system is one of the major challenges for sustainable
development. According Rick Leblanc (2016) ‘‘Integrated Solid Waste Management (ISWM)
represents a contemporary and systematic approach to solid waste management. An efficient
ISWM system considers how to reduce, reuse, recycle, and manage waste to protect human
health and the natural environment.” Amijo de Vege et al. (2008) identified waste
characterization as the first step to any successful waste management policy, in order to estimate
potential materials recovery, identify sources of component generation, facilitate design of
processing equipment, estimate physical, chemical, and thermal properties of the wastes, and
maintain compliance with regulations. Nigeria generates more than 32 million tons of solid waste
annually, out of which only 20– 30% is collected. MSW are indiscriminately disposed leading to
blockage of canals, drainages and causing pollution to water bodies. Despite being a model for
other states in the country, MSW is a big challenge for the Lagos State Waste Management
Agency (LAWMA) to manage alone, hence the need to engage the services of private waste firms
and other franchise to reduce the burden of waste collection and disposal (Bakare, 2016; UNEP,
2009). There is little or no data on the volume or characteristics of waste generated in most
tertiary institution in the country on which to initiate a design for waste management system for
the institutions.
Expanding populace, household and Industrial activities have prompted increment in by and
large waste population. In this manner, associations, networks and people need to discover
methods for dealing with these wastes with the end goal to safeguard and benefit from their
natural surroundings. Today, the financial estimation of waste is tremendous. It has been man-
matured to produce a great deal of assets (clean and green power, incomes, employment and
different types of improvement) and its viable usage has prompted greener condition and less
contaminated condition. For an economic value of waste to be produced, the government,
associations and individuals at a particular setting must be taught greatly on waste management.
This is important with the end goal to have great information about the financial significance of
waste and coordinate towards securing the profitable value.

In this way, for every one of these aims and targets to be accomplished, a refreshed waste
administration framework and benchmarking examination should be adopted. All the more
likewise, vital advances and activities to achieve the objectives should be built up. Benchmarking
is a vital issue to any association since it offers chance to recognize, comprehend and adjust a
striking practice from an organization viewed as the best in the business. Also, for any waste
management framework to be reasonable, a predominant, working and developed waste
management system should be benchmarked, and extraordinary accepted procedures should be
considered. Waste can be viewed as things that individuals dispose of or discard since it has
dangerous properties and it is of no value. There are diverse classes of waste, for instance; Solid
waste, Animal side-effect, Electronic waste, Food waste, Agricultural waste, end of live vehicles
and Gas cylinder to mention a few. All these wastes can be reused with the end goal to lessen
contamination, for example, air, water, land, radio-dynamic and thermal contamination, along
these lines, making nature greener and conducive for each living object. What's more, reusing
can likewise produce riches for individuals, associations and governments. As such, it enhances
the standard and prosperity of the general population living in a specific domain. Reusing is
capable of prompting improvement in a setting since it lessens waste and, in the meantime,
creates riches. Hence, the propensity for reusing in a legitimate and standard means must be
utilized by all with the end goal to achieve a supportable development in this cutting-edge world.
CONCLUSION
Effective waste management is a significant issue that needs to be addressed in developing
countries in order to improve standard of living and as well safe lives. Waste disposal and
collection system of waste is another major challenge in developing nations. Urbanization and
industrialization have led to proportional in-crease of waste produced in Lagos state. Coupled
with the negative attitude of people toward handling of waste is affecting our environment
presently, causing lot of hazard to human health and leading to high rate of untimely death.
Flood and erosion have become everyday news and people being displaced from their homes
and houses being submerged are rampant in Nigeria as whole due to the fact that people refused
comply with the modern means of waste management. Educating staff and students on the issue
of waste management is very vital because it will help them to adapt to proper waste handling
and abide to legal and policy of waste management which is an instrument used for any
successful society on waste management.

Strategic policy and community participation are needed for the source reduction and improved
recycling of waste. Waste characterization as highlighted in this paper will provide a better
understanding on the waste generation pattern in the University campus and how it should
stimulate the basis for a better decision on the sustainable strategic in the management of waste
on campus.