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Environment & Urbanization

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First published October 2007

An analysis of solid waste generation in a traditional African city: the example of Ogbomoso, Nigeria

Afon AbelView all authors and affiliations

https://doi.org/10.1177/0956247807082834

Abstract

This paper reports on patterns of household solid waste generation in the three distinct ecological zones that make up the city of Ogbomoso: the traditional core zone, the transitional zone developed under colonial rule and the suburban zone. It gives details of how total waste volumes and the components of waste varied over time in each of these zones — and there was considerable variation in these by day of the week and by month. For example, in the suburban zone, total waste generation for January was around half that for December; and although average incomes are higher in that zone, the per capita quantity of household waste (measured by weight) was not higher. Comparing household waste generation across the three zones showed that as education, income and social status increase, per capita waste generation declines, especially with regard to heavier organic waste products which account for more than three-quarters of the total waste generated in the study area. This is in part influenced by the differences in employment/livelihood patterns between the zones, and the study highlights how livelihood patterns and residents' possibilities for livestock raising influence the scale and composition of household waste. Finally, the paper highlights the importance for waste management of considering solid waste generated by enterprises in residential areas, including those run from home.

1. Adedibu, Afolabi (1983), “Solid waste characteristics and management in Ilorin”, Journal of the Nigerian Institute of Town Planners Vol III, No 1, pages 33—41; also Oluwande, P (1974), “Investigation into certain characteristics of refuse from Western state of Nigeria”, Journal of Solid Waste Management Vol 9, No 2, pages 22—32.

2. See Akorede, V (1975), “Ilorin — a study in urban geography”, MA Thesis, University of Lagos, Nigeria; also Ayeni, Bola (1994), “The metropolitan area of Ibadan: its growth and structure”, in F Akintola and G Ikporukpo (editors), Ibadan Regions, Department of Geography, University of Ibadan, Nigeria, pages 72—84; Onokorahaye, Andrew (1995), Benin: A Traditional African City in Transition, BSSA, University of Benin, Nigeria; and Gana, R (1996), “A comparative analysis of development control implementation in Minna and Bida, Niger state, Nigeria”, PhD thesis, Department of Geography, University of Ilorin, Nigeria, pages 87—106.

3. Afon, Abel (2005), “Solid waste generation in selected cities of Oyo state, Nigeria”, PhD thesis, Department of Urban and Regional Planning, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria.

4. Bowen, Thomas (1957), Central Africa: Adventures and Missionary Labour in Several Countries in the Interior of Africa from 1859 to 1866, Southern Baptist Publication Society, Charleston, South Carolina, USA.

5. National Population Commission Nigeria (1991), Nigerian Population and Housing Census Figures, Federal Government Press, Lagos.

6. Popoola, Bolaji (1997), “An analysis of the urban periphery of Ogbomoso, Oyo state”, MURP thesis, Centre for Urban and Regional Planning, University of Ibadan, Nigeria.

7. Abolade, Olajoke (2004), “An assessment of the effects of urban growth incursion into rural lands in Ogbomoso, Oyo state, Nigeria”, MSc Thesis, Institute of Ecology and Environmental Studies, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria.

8. Pfamatter, R and R Schertenleib (1996), Non-governmental Refuse Collection in Low-income Urban Areas: Lessons Learned from Selected Schemes in Asia, Africa and Latin America, Swiss Federal Institute of Environmental Science and Technology, Zurich, Switzerland.

9. See reference 1, Oluwande (1974); also see reference 3.

10.

10. Collins, John and Bryan Downes (1977), “The effects of size of the provision of public services: the cases of solid waste collection in smaller cities”, Urban Affairs Quarterly Vol 12, No 3, pages 333—347; also Marchand, Rogier (1998), “Marketing of solid waste management services in Tingloy, the Philippines: a study on affordability and willingness to pay”, UWEP Working Document No 9, Gouda, the Netherlands; and Cointreau, Sandra (1982), “Environmental management of urban solid waste in developing countries: a project guide”, Urban Development Technical Paper No 5, World Bank, Washington DC.

11.

11. See reference 1, Oluwande (1974); also Egunjobi, Layi (1986), “Problems of solid waste management in Nigerian urban centres”, in E O Adeniyi and I B Bello Imam (editors), Development and the Environment, Proceedings of the 12th National Conference, NISER, Ibadan, pages 308—318.

12.

12. At the time of the survey, there were approximately 130 nairas to one US$.

13.

13. See reference 10, Cointreau (1982).

14.

14. See reference 1, Adedibu (1983); also see reference 10, Cointreau (1982); and Cargo, Douglas (1978), “Solid wastes: factors influencing generation rates”, Research Paper No 174, Department of Geography, University of Chicago.

15.

15. See reference 10, Cointreau (1982).

References

Abolade, Olajoke (2004), “An assessment of the effects of urban growth incursion into rural lands in Ogbomoso, Oyo state, Nigeria”, MSc thesis, Institute of Ecology and Environmental Studies, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria.

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