TITLE:
Generation, Characterization and Management Practices of Household Solid Wastes in Cowfield, Paynesville City, Liberia
AUTHORS:
Fallah Nyumah, Joseph F. Charles, Isaac A. Bamgboye, Ademola K. Aremu, James S. Eisah
KEYWORDS:
Waste Generation, Composition, Household, Municipal Solid Waste Management
JOURNAL NAME:
Journal of Geoscience and Environment Protection,
Vol.9 No.4,
April
26,
2021
ABSTRACT: The success of any waste management system requires accurate and
up-to-date data on quantity, composition of waste. Waste
generation data from household are needed to address issues relating to
municipal solid wastes such as management method, performance improvement,
policy, regional and local planning, administrative, cost accounting, design
and operation of landfill facilities and environmental quality. This study was
conducted to provide empirical data on generation rates, quantity and
composition, management practices, challenges and strategies from urban
household. Waste collection, weighing, questionnaires survey and field
observation were methods used during the study. Waste was collected and weighed
from 60 households using multi-stage sampling technique for seven days.
Questionnaires were analyzed using Statistical
Package for Social Sciences version 20 and Excel. A total of 1125.2 kg of waste was recorded. The average
household waste generation was 3 kg per day with per capita generation rate of
0.41 kg/cap/day. The compositional analysis showed that Organic (53%), Plastic
(11%), Textile (6%), Metal (2%), Glass (1%), Paper and Cardboard 4% and others
(22%). Solid waste management practices are very rudimentary. Burning (53.7%)
and Open Dumping (30%) were found to be the most commonly used method of
disposal with very limited collection service (33.3%) and segregation. The most
challenges faced by households were communal disposal area (66.7%) and waste
service providers (21.7%) storage bins (11.6%). Waste to energy (48.3%) and compositing
(23.3%) were the most considered option for waste management by the
respondents.