Investigating municipal solid waste generation and management in Ilorin for possible integrated waste-management system

The municipal solid waste generated in Ilorin is so enormous that the management method available cannot sufficiently cater for it. This is evident by the uncollected piles of MSW on the streets and the illegal disposal of wastes into water ways and undesignated sites. This study establishes the aggregate MSW produced in Ilorin and classifies it into categories, for an integrated management system. The aggregate MSW was established, using facts and figures obtained from collection processes without weighbridges. Sixty (60) samples of 240 L bin volume of MSW each, were sorted and characterized for the investigation. About 477,954 tons/year of MSW was estimated at the rate of 1.3 kg/capita/day. The population accountable for the waste generation, was estimated to be 1,154,883 people. About 3280 kg of MSW was characterized to give 50% recyclable, 39% compostable and 11% combustible categories correspondingly, without any component occurring twice. This implies, if recycling, composting, and incineration are integrated into waste-management system in Ilorin, the environmental pollution and land degradation consequences of inefficient and unscientific waste disposal would be ameliorated; thereby making the wastes to contribute to economic valuables than being a nuisance. [GRAPHICS] .