Abstract

Higher education institutions (HEIs) are often regarded as small municipalities due to their size and various complex activities that take place on campus. It is important to know the generation and composition of the waste prior to any recommendation of ISWM program. Universities are expected to drive the efforts towards responsible waste management as educational institutions have the moral and ethical obligation to act responsibly towards the environment and society.

The main purpose of the research was to determine generation and composition of waste generated from whole campus A of the University of Buea. This study conducted over a two-week period across three sampling zones examined through a purposive sampling technique, where waste collected and characterized. The collected waste was, sorted, weighed and classified according to their components.  A set of questionnaire was administered on a sample of 40 respondents within the study area. The data collected was analyzed using descriptive statistics in SPSS version 21.0. The result of the study reveals that of the average total solid waste generated per day (16.94 kg/day). The major waste generated were organic waste (36.5%), plastics (22.5%), papers (20.1%), metals (16.6%) while other waste materials (5.1%). By comparing to the availability of local recycling market, the larger proportion of MSW is found in recyclable and potentially recyclable categories, which as whole, represent 58.0% and 36.0% by volume. The local recyclable market can readily absorb 58.0% by volume of the total waste generated in UB, provided with effective recycling campaign. The portion in the potentially recyclable category could have a different destination other than disposal site. The strategies of Reduce, Reuse and Recycle (3R) application upon three main categories in UM waste stream (organic waste, papers, plastics) were also discussed.

Key words: University; municipal solid waste; generation; characterization; weight.

 

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1 Background Of Studies

Waste management has been one of the major global environmental problems faced mostly by local communities especially in developing countries where inhabitants in slumps and ghettoes are seen in close contacts with waste.

Solid waste management like other waste management in many countries of the globe especially Cameroon have not been effectively managed. Though individuals and local authorities have put in efforts to ensure the minimization of solid waste, there is still so much to be done in order to improve the waste management system yet there is still open dumping of waste in most urban centres in less developing countries experience high level of Urbanization from rural areas and this increase in population size makes solid waste management a major issue of concern for many under developed countries.

As of now, many articles have been put up for municipal and household waste management in Cameroon. Examples are ;( Tambe et al., 2011) looks at characterization of municipal solid waste for sustainable waste management in Kumba;(Baboucar, 2015) looks at the community preparation of municipal solid waste strategies and challenges in Buea.

So far no article has been published on institutional solid waste management in Cameroon meanwhile educational institutions have been the one of the major waste generation sites due to massive inflow and out flow of individuals coupled with different economic and human activities generating waste of different composition depending of sources.

This study was carried out in the university of Buea which happens to be one of the biggest state university in Cameroon, was the chosen site for this institutional solid waste management in order to determine the quantity of waste been generated and how it can be properly managed not only in the chose site but also in other educational institutions. Reasons being that, waste management programs that are site specific have proven to be more successful (Symth et al., 2010) and also, analysis of waste flows within educational analysis of waste flows within educational institutions is the first step to designing successful and comprehensive management system (Armijo et al., 2008) towards environmental protection (Symth et al., 2010) it is important to carry out waste generation and characterization study in educational institutions in Cameroon in order to bring out data that will enable proposals to be made and better solid waste handling and management as more research work has been carried out on that aspect

 

1.2 Statement Of Problems

This project will address the problem of improper waste management in the Buea educational institutions which has been a threat the environmental and on human health. Buea being an Urbanization town in Cameroon, has a poor solid waste management system reasons being that all the responsibility is assumed by one company which is the HYSACAM.

For solid waste to be efficiently managed, all stakeholders have to be involved in the process and this include the waste generators, waste processors, formal and informal sectors, financial institutions and private initiatives such as non-governmental and community based organizations (Baud et al., 2001; Palezynski, 2002; Read and Wilson, 2003 Ahmed and Ali 2004, Henry et al., 2006; Kassim and Ali 2006 Wilson et al.,) 2006. They all have a fundamental rule to play in improving services and systems and ensuring more sustainable waste management services are developed and delivered.

 

1.3 General Objectives

This study was based on institutional solid waste management in the University of Buea and propose possible solutions towards improving waste management in this institutions.

1.4 Specific Objectives

1. To assess the quantity of waste generated daily in the University of Buea.
2. To determine the physical composition of the waste generated in the University of Buea.
3. To propose solutions for good institutional solid waste management.
4. To determine the potential for recycle of institutional solid waste management in the university of Buea.

 

1.5 Research Questions

1. What is the quantity of waste generated daily in the University of Buea?
2. What is the physical composition of the waste generated in the University of Buea?
3. What are the potential for recycle of institutional solid waste management in the University of Buea?

 

1.6 Scope of study

Institutional solid waste management includes all waste streams from all the departments within the institution. It also comprises of all activities including waste generation rate characterization and composition identification, to waste collection, storage, transfer waste processing, transportation and disposal.

The purpose of this study is looked institutional solid waste quantity composition and characteristics and also to propose solutions towards improving solid waste in educational institutions based on the results obtained. This study is expected to have a vital importance in providing significant data which is fundamental management system or as s step to contact more systematic study I educational institutions with the objectives stated above.