African Journal of Environmental and Waste Management

African Journal of Environmental and Waste Management ISSN 2375-1266 Vol. 6 (2), pp. 001-008, February, 2019. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Recycling of wastes as a strategy for environmental conservation in the Lake Victoria Basin: The case of women groups in Kisumu, Kenya

Wilfred K. Subbo^1* and Margaret N. Moindi²

¹Institute of African Studies, University of Nairobi, P. O. Box 30197, Nairobi.

²Department of Public Health, Kenyatta University; P. O. Box 43444, Nairobi.

Accepted 26 October, 2018

Abstract

This paper examines the roles, opportunities and challenges that women groups in Kisumu City face as they recycle polythene papers and water hyacinth plant materials to make various saleable products such as bags, mats and baskets. The study objectives were: To analyze the roles of women groups in environmental conservation; To examine the opportunities that the women groups had in the recycling of polythene papers and water hyacinth plants; To examine the challenges faced by the women groups in their recycling efforts; To analyze the policy implications of the recycling effort of the women groups involved in environmental conservation. The study utilized the following methodologies, structured interviews, participant observations, Key informants, focus group discussions. Thirty-five women groups were analyzed. The findings indicate that recycling of polythene papers and water hyacinth plants contribute to environmental conservation, as well presenting opportunities for the creation of wealth among women in the groups.

Key words: Environmental conservation, recycling, women groups, roles, opportunities.

African Journal of Environmental and Waste Management ISSN 2375-1266 Vol. 6 (1), pp. 001-011, January, 2019. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Level of public awareness on effects of computer e-waste disposal management approaches on human health and the environment in Nairobi City County, Kenya

¹Margaret W. Maimba, ²Peter M. Ngau, ³Fridah W. Mugo

¹Ph.D Student, Department of Urban and Regional Planning, University of Nairobi, P.O. Box 30197, Nairobi, Kenya.

²Pricincipal, School of Architecture and Engineering and Professor in the Department of Urban and Regional Planning, University of Nairobi, P.O. Box 30197, Nairobi, Kenya.

³Senior Lecturer, Department of Urban and Regional Planning, University of Nairobi, Kenya.

Accepted 20 December, 2018

Abstract

With the advent of rapid development of electronic technology and change in lifestyles, the lifespan of computer components and accessories has greatly reduced resulting in increased generation of computer e-waste. This paper explores the level of public awareness of potential impacts of computer e-waste on human health and environmental degradation of the urban area in Nairobi City County. Structured questionnaires were administered to 44 public institutions, 30 private companies and 156 households; random sampling for households and private companies and purposive sampling for public institutions. Despite respondents considering computer e-waste in the urban environment as serious and the responses received examined for the content of environmental and or human health concerns, only few mentioned environmental (12.5%) and human health (8.3%) considerations. Most respondents do not know the proper computer e-waste disposal management approaches and hence the reason why they stored the e-waste in houses and offices and also threw it together with other county solid waste. The study concludes that there is low public awareness and insufficient knowledge on the negative effects of computer e-waste on human health and the environment. The study recommends use of several media to bring public awareness of potential effects of computer e-waste on human health and the environment. The research recommends establishment of a county computer e-waste authority whose mandate is to implement a zero-e-waste policy. Emphasis should be on household’s e-waste drop-off points, county computer e-waste recycling centre and wards community capacity building to absorb the spinoffs from the county computer e-waste recycling centre.

Keywords: Public awareness, computer e-waste, human health and environment risks, disposal management approaches.

African Journal of Environmental and Waste Management ISSN 2375-1266 Vol. 6 (1), pp. 001-008, January, 2019. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Characterization of domestic and market solid wastes at source in Lagos metropolis, Lagos, Nigeria

Oyelola, O. T¹ and Babatunde, A. I^2*

¹Chemical Science Department, School of Science, Yaba College of Technology, Yaba, Lagos, Nigeria.

²Chemistry Department, Faculty of Science, University of Lagos, Akoka, Lagos, Nigeria.

Accepted 12 November, 2018

Abstract

Waste management is an important element of environmental protection. Proper characterization of municipal solid waste is fundamental for the planning of municipal waste management services. The objectives of this study were to estimate the percentage of various components of household and market waste generated from source and also the seasonal composition of household waste. The domestic and market solid wastes generated during a period of 48 days by a sampling of 200 households and 40 market waste samples of different socio – economic characteristics were classified and weighed at source between March 2004 and April 2006. The household solid waste mainly consisted of putrescible waste (68.16%), paper (12.46%), nylon (7.68%), Plastic (3.64%), glass (1.78%), metal (2.08%), and garden waste/grit (4.20%). The market waste consisted of putrescible waste (68.98%); paper (23.57%), nylon (3.92%), Plastic (1.77%) and metal (1.77%). The seasonal composition shows a high generation of putrescible during the wet season and nylon during the dry season.

Key words: Household waste, market waste, waste composition, Lagos metropolis.

African Journal of Environmental and Waste Management ISSN 2375-1266 Vol. 6 (1), pp. 001-010, January, 2019. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Long term effect of municipal solid waste amendment on soil heavy metal content of sites used for periurban agriculture in Ngaoundere, Cameroon

R. Adjia^1*, W. M. L Fezeu^1,2, J. B. Tchatchueng¹, S. Sorho³, G. Echevarria⁴, M. B. Ngassoum¹

¹National Advanced School for Agro-Processs Industries (ENSAI), Ngaoundere University, P.O. Box 455, Ngaoundere, Cameroon.

²Belisle Laboratory, 100 Fisher, Second Floor, Mont-St-Hilaire (Quebec) Canada J3G 4S6.

³National Polytechnic Institute (INP-HB), P.O. Box 1093 Yamoussoukro, Ivory Coast.

⁴Laboratory of Soil and Environmental Sciences (LES), E.N.S.A.I.A. – INPL, 2, avenue de la Forêt de Haye - BP 172, 54501 Vandoeuvre- lès-Nancy, France.

Accepted 22 November, 2018

Abstract

An assessment of the impact of amendment using untreated municipal solid wastes on the trace element contents of periurban areas soils was carried out in Ngaoundere. Waste samples were collected in November and soil samples were collected in November, January, April and July. Heavy metal total concentrations in urban wastes differed significantly among sites and ranged from 0.48 to 7.64 mg/kg for Cd, 38.3 to 236 mg/kg for Cu, 44.06 to 58.03 mg/kg for Ni, 117 to 528 mg/kg for Pb and 270 to 2110 mg/kg for Zn. These levels were out of the critical level for agricultural use at Camp prison (for Pb and Zn), Norvegien (for Cd, Cu and Zn), and Sabongari Gare site (for Cd, Cu and Zn). The levels of Ni in urban wastes from all sites and the levels of all heavy metals in urban wastes from Douze Poteaux site were lower than the critical level. The results revealed that the soil total concentrations of Cu, Zn, Cd and Pb were below the typical agricultural soil critical level for the soil control and out of the critical level for amended soils. The levels of Ni were found to be within the normal range at all sites. The highest available concentration of Zn (139.17 mg/kg) was found in November, Fe (843.23 mg/kg) and Pb (38.82 mg/kg) in January and Cu (19.09 mg/kg) and Ni (8.98 mg/kg) in July. The available concentrations of Cd did not differ among periods. The highest bioavailable factor (BF) of Zn, Ni and Pb was found at Douze Poteaux site and of Cd and Cu at Sabongari Gare site.

Key words: Heavy metals, soils, municipal solid wastes, amendment, bioavailability factor.