Project Abstract

Landfill emissions are a significant environmental issue in Nigeria, with the potential to cause harm to both human health and the ecosystem. This study aims to investigate the types and levels of emissions from landfills in Nigeria and assess their impact on the environment. The research will focus on key gases emitted from landfills, such as methane, carbon dioxide, and volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and their contribution to greenhouse gas emissions and air pollution. The study will involve field measurements of gas emissions at selected landfill sites in Nigeria using gas analyzers and other relevant equipment. Gas samples will be collected and analyzed to determine the concentration of different gases being emitted. These results will be compared with existing data and international standards to evaluate the environmental impact of the landfill emissions. In addition to gas emissions, the research will also investigate the leachate produced in landfills and its potential for contaminating soil and groundwater. Leachate samples will be collected and analyzed for various pollutants, including heavy metals, organic compounds, and pathogens. The findings will help in understanding the extent of environmental contamination caused by landfill leachate and the associated risks to human health and ecosystems. Furthermore, the study will explore the existing waste management practices in Nigeria and their effectiveness in mitigating landfill emissions. Strategies such as waste segregation, recycling, and composting will be evaluated for their potential to reduce the amount of waste going to landfills and minimize environmental impact. Policy recommendations will be proposed based on the research findings to improve waste management practices and reduce emissions from landfills in Nigeria. Overall, this research aims to provide valuable insights into the environmental impact of landfill emissions in Nigeria and suggest strategies for sustainable waste management. By understanding the sources and effects of landfill emissions, policymakers and stakeholders can develop effective measures to mitigate environmental pollution and protect public health. This study contributes to the growing body of knowledge on waste management and environmental sustainability in Nigeria and provides a basis for future research and policy development in this area.

Project 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