CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1 Introduction

In today’s world, University communities can be regarded as ‘‘mini-cities” with large territorial coverage, diverse human activities, these having different degrees of effect on the environment (Alshuwaikhat and Abubakar, 2008).

Waste management programs in higher education institutions in industrialized countries began more than 20years ago and vary from voluntary and local efforts to institutionalize programs (Armijo et al., 2003). Some of the higher education initiatives focused on recycling and waste reduction have been very successful.

Armijo et al., (2008) reported that colleges and universities have the moral and ethical obligation to act responsibly towards the environment, they would be expected to be leaders in the movement for environmental protection. Specifically, it would be expected that universities would drive the efforts towards responsible waste management. Besides, appropriate waste management would bring benefits to the institution such as a reduction of the financial resources destined to waste management, but, above all, it would set an example to the students and the community.

It is considered advantageous to look at solid waste management at the institutional level partly because of large sizes of the institutions, and mostly because the institutions currently manage their waste themselves to a great extent. In addition, the composition of waste generated varies from institutions as a result of seasonal variation, lifestyle, demographics, geographic, and local legislation impacted Irwan et al., 2011; AbdAlqader and Hamad, 2012).

Also, due to the integrated nature of their activities, institutions can easily fashion out their own mini-solid waste management systems within the large municipal solid waste management system framework. With such systems in place in institutions, resource recovery and waste recycling can more easily and effectively be incorporated, reducing the pressure on solid waste disposal sites.

ISWM can be defined as the selection and application of suitable techniques, technologies management programs to achieve specific waste management objectives and goals (Tchobanoglous et al., 1993). A hierarchy in waste management can be used to rank actions to be implemented programs within the community. The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) (1989) has defined this hierarchy as source reduction, recycling, waste combustion and landfilling. For any ISWM system to be successful, the first step is to carry out waste characterization studies (De Vega et al., 2008). Because of the heterogeneous nature of solid wastes, the determination of the composition is not an easy task. Strict statistical procedures are difficult, if not impossible, to implement. For this reason, more generalized field procedures, based on common sense and random sampling technique have evolved for determining composition (Tchobanoglous et al., 1993).

In Cameroonian universities there is little or no study has been done regarding the waste characterization and quantification for further analysis of the recoverable potential of wastes.  No reliable data on solid waste characteristics and generation rate within the Buea University. The lack of characterization studies suggests the need to research and to document waste composition in order to have the necessary data to propose better handling and management alternatives for solid waste.

 

1.2 Statement of the Problem

Open dumping of waste presents a real threat to the environment and to human health and is commonplace in developing countries like Cameroon (Baboucar, 2015).

In Cameroon, most literature reviews on SWM pay more attention to residential solid waste management. For instance Tambe et al, (2016) looks at characterization of municipal solid waste for sustainable waste management in Kumba, Mbeng et al, (2012) examined waste characterization as an element of household waste management operation in Limbe; Baboucar, (2015) looks at the community perception of MSW management strategies and challenges in Buea,  Din-Louis, (2015) undergo a study of household solid waste management in Limbe, while Manga et al,  (2008) examined waste  management policies in Limbe.  However, there is very little or no data on the volume and quantity of waste generated in educational institutions in Cameroon like universities and their economic values.

Derry, (2014), stating Johannessen and Boyer (1999) observation that SWM practices that aim at maximizing the yield of valuable products from waste, as well as minimizing the environmental effects have had little or no consideration in Africa. These observations are not different in Cameroon. At the national, municipal or institutional levels, steps are not taken to separate waste from source for value addition.

Therefore, this study will focus on the analysis of institutional SWM practices and examines its waste composition and quantities, using the University of Buea. The study will also examine the amount of institutional solid waste that can be salvaged through reuse or recycle.

 

1.3 Objective

The overall goal of the study was to examine institutional solid waste generation, characterization for proper management practices in the University of Buea, and assessing the possibility of scaling up such practices in ensuring sustainable and effective solid waste management practices of educational institutions both at regional and well as national levels.

 

1.3.1 The specific objectives

The specific objectives of this work were to;

1. To determine the physical composition of solid waste generated in the University of Buea.
2. To determine the per capita waste generation and quantity of waste generated at the University of Buea.
3. To identify current solid waste management practices at the University of Buea.
4. To determine the potential for recycling of the institutional solid waste management at the University of Buea.

 

1.3.2 Research Questions

i What is the content of waste generated at the University of Buea?

ii What is the volume or quantity of waste generated at the University of Buea?

iii What is the current waste management practices carried out at the current solid waste management practices at the University of Buea?

iv What are the recycle potentials of the waste generated at the University of Buea?

 

1.4 Scope of the Study

The scope of this study is limited to waste generation and characterization. The selected study area is the University of Buea, which is one of the famous state university in Cameroon. The research work is presented in five (5) Chapters. Chapter one (1) looks at the problem of waste management in the University of Buea. Chapter two examines existing literature on solid waste characterization and quantification as well as waste management. Chapter three (3) describes the materials and methods employed in gathering data from the field. These included field investigation, questionnaire and face-to-face interviews. Chapter four (4) analyst the findings from the fields and chapter five (5) the key findings of the study is the conclusion and recommendations.

 

1.5 Significance of the study.

The justification of the study arises from the fact that solid waste management is globally shifting from manual to more scientific and technologically advanced methods and models for its proper management. The practice and problems of waste management are no longer in the hands of local government (The Council) alone but distributed to all stakeholders (tertiary institutions). Thus the research was significant for the following reasons;

1. This research is expected to generate more information to the already existing body of knowledge in the area of waste management with respects to tertiary institutions like Universities.
2. Characterization of solid waste will pave the way for those interested in compost, recycle or landfill or reprocess the waste generated in the universities.
3. These findings will help in drafting appropriate policies for educational institutions like universities which will be in a position to initiate programs that will empower students and make them aware of the dangers of poor waste management so that both the government and students would join efforts to solve the problem at hand.
4. The study will also provide more information to future scholars and researchers on waste generation and characterization rates with respect to educational institutions in Cameroon.