Two alternatives to the current utilization of open municipal waste dumpsites by Edo State Waste Management Board (EMWB) in the management of solid waste streams in Benin city, Southern Nigeria

Abstract

Municipal solid wastes evacuated from all private and commercial premises within Benin city are assembled at either of four (4) functional open dump sites located at several locations within the city and two (2) of these dump sites are being operated by the Edo State Waste Management Board (EMWB). Only Government accredited waste managers are allowed to utilize the open dumpsites. Human scavengers abound within the premises of these dumpsites and personnel at the respective dump sites periodically with the aid of a mechanical tipper moves and accumulate the wastes prior to open incineration. Aside from the negative impacts of these open dumpsites on the aesthetics of the affected environment, it is a crude and archaic process of wastes disposal which in the long run is unsustainable. A sanitary landfill has been described as a carefully engineered system designed to manage the effects of waste disposal on anthropogenic health, safety, and the environment. Biogas production using anaerobic digestion (AD) or bio-methanation is an environmentally friendly process that utilize increased quantities of organic waste components from agricultural, industrial and municipal waste sources as well as floral residues. Utilization of functional land fill sites and bio-gasification of solid waste streams are not novel phenomena and as such, the Edo State Government could adopt and utilize these options as viable alternatives to the currently utilized crude practice of disposal of municipal wastes in an open dump site.