Solid Wastes Generation in Covenant University, Ota, Nigeria: Characterisation and Implication for Sustainable Waste Management

Adequate waste characterisation is a requirement for effective waste management and environmental benign waste disposal system. The objectives of this paper were to estimate the percentage of various components in characterised solid waste materials generated in selected sites in Covenant University, Ota, Nigeria. The study was undertaken for 10 weeks through the weighing of solid waste generated in the institution before their delivery to landfills. The study shows that of the average waste generated per day in the institution, food waste exhibited the highest percentage generation at 26.29%, followed by polythene bag at 19.37% then 13.64% plastic bottles, 11.59% metal cans, 10.52% paper, 7.24% plastic food pack, 5.69% other combustible wastes and 5.67% polystyrene food pack. The high composition of non biodegradable wastes from this results bears implication of the requirement of alternative waste management solutions for attaining sustainable and environmental friendly waste management system in the university community.