Thesis Abstract

Landfill gas emissions, particularly methane and carbon dioxide, are major contributors to global greenhouse gas emissions. In Nigeria, the management of landfills and their emissions is a significant environmental concern due to the increasing population, urbanization, and industrial activities. This research project aims to investigate landfill emissions and their impacts on the environment in Nigeria. The study will involve a comprehensive review of existing literature on landfill gas emissions in Nigeria and globally to establish the current state of knowledge on the subject. Field surveys and data collection will be conducted at selected landfill sites across different regions of Nigeria to assess the types and quantities of gases emitted, as well as the factors influencing their release. An assessment of the environmental impacts of landfill emissions will be carried out, focusing on air quality degradation, contribution to climate change, and potential health effects on nearby communities. The study will also evaluate the existing landfill gas management practices in Nigeria, including gas collection systems and regulatory frameworks. Furthermore, the research will explore potential mitigation strategies to reduce landfill gas emissions and their environmental impacts. This will involve investigating best practices in landfill gas management from other countries and assessing their applicability to the Nigerian context. The study will also consider the feasibility of implementing technologies such as gas collection systems, flaring, and utilization for energy generation. The findings of this research project will provide valuable insights into the current status of landfill gas emissions in Nigeria and their environmental implications. The results will contribute to the development of policies and strategies to mitigate landfill emissions and improve waste management practices in the country. By raising awareness of the environmental risks associated with landfills and promoting sustainable waste management solutions, this research aims to support efforts towards achieving a cleaner and healthier environment in Nigeria.

Thesis Overview

INTRODUCTION

Cities are at the nexus of a further threat to the environment, namely the production of an increasing quantity and complexity of wastes. The estimated quantity of Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) generated worldwide is 1.7 – 1.9 billion metric tons.2 In many cases, municipal wastes are not well managed in developing countries, as cities and municipalities cannot cope with the accelerated pace of waste production. Waste collection rates are often lower than 70 per cent in low-income countries. More than 50 per cent of the collected waste is often disposed of through uncontrolled landfilling and about 15 per cent is processed through unsafe and informal recycling. Landfill Emissions

Municipal Solid Waste Management

As a Mayor, you may have to face challenging waste management decisions addressing issues that require immediate attention as well as potential issues that require strategic and integrated planning and implementation. Establishing and improving facilities for collection, recycling, treatment and disposal for MSW management can be very costly. For example, building and operating sanitary landfills and incineration plants require huge investments and incur substantial operation and maintenance costs. Furthermore, it is becoming increasingly difficult to find suitable locations for waste treatment facilities due to the prevalence of the Not In My Backyard (NIMBY) attitude amongst communities. Landfill Emissions

Meanwhile, if waste is growing at 3-5 per cent a year and rural-urban migration increases a city’s population at a similar rate, then a city’s waste generation will double every 10 years.4 Urban managers are therefore encouraged to pursue the paths of Integrated Solid Waste Management (ISWM) and Reduce, Reuse and Recycle (3Rs) that place highest priority on waste prevention, waste reduction, and waste recycling instead of just trying to cope with ever-increasing amounts of waste through treatment and disposal. Such efforts will help cities to reduce the financial burden on city authorities for waste management, as well as reduce the pressure on landfill requirements. We live in a world of increasing scarcity. Raw materials from natural resources are limited, financial resources are often insufficient, and securing land for final disposal is getting more difficult. Landfill Emissions

Clearly, city authorities should set policy directions aiming for resource efficient, recycle-based society if they are to provide a clean, healthy and pleasant living environment to its citizens for current and future generations. Although waste management responsibilities primarily lie with cities and municipalities, many of the successful cases in waste management involve a wide range of stakeholders in their implementation, as can be seen in the case studies cited here. This gives a clear message to cities and municipalities that they should not try to do everything by themselves. Rather, the key to success is to do what they are good at, and collaborate with other sectors in the society, such as private sector, communities and in some cases with the informal sector, in the interest of expanding waste management services and improving efficiency and effectiveness. Landfill Emissions