POTENTIAL IMPACTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE ON SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT IN NIGERIA

Abstract

Solid waste management processes and climate change operate at similar timescales, as such; there is a need to understand what the potential climate change impacts may be on waste management. The scope of this study was limited only to municipal and household waste. The study x- rayed the potential impacts of climate change on solid waste management through the assessment of the risk and impacts of climate change variables, to the sitting and operations of a wide range of waste management facilities in Nigeria. Definitions of solid waste, correlation between climate change and solid waste management, waste management policies, and regulations in Nigeria, as well as the status of waste management sector in Nigeria were discussed. Some strategies for reducing green house gases in municipal solid waste were product stewardship, paperless office, anaerobic digestion, use of bioreactors, co-firing, and biomass pyrolysis/gasification.