Seasonal variation and municipal solid waste composition: issues for development of new waste management strategies in Abuja, Nigeria

The state of solid waste management in cities of developing countries like Nigeria is a major social/environmental challenge. While research to understand the nature of the barriers to sustainable management methods have been carried out, the impact of seasonal changes in waste composition and practice is still in its infancy in developing countries. This paper investigates seasonal variation in municipal solid waste composition in Abuja, Nigeria, a classic tropical urban environment. Weekly waste collections from eighty randomly selected dwellings in Garki District of Abuja Municipality were sampled and analyzed at two peaks of the main tropical seasons: January-February (dry season) and August-September (wet season) in 2008. Results of compositional analysis and physical characterization were statistically analyzed and indicate that waste stream has approximately 11% and 60% recyclable and biodegradable components respectively. This investigation finds no significant difference in the proportion of biodegradable components of the waste stream from both seasons. Findings from this investigation helped develop strategies designed to improve current management practice