Abstract

Waste disposal and management have always been a problem to people in every part of the world of which Nigeria is not left out. This research work assesses the waste management system in Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife focusing on the central campus. It also aims, among others, at determining the quantity of waste generated within the O.A.U campus (per capita waste generation) and projecting toward a period of 10 years, the population of inhabitants with a view to estimating the possible amount of waste that may be generated over the said period. The research was carried out through the administration of questionnaires, interview, observations and field work. Data were collected on the storage, collection and disposal systems. It comprised an estimation of the volume of solid waste generated per capita per day and involved the determination of the number and capacity of refuse storage bins. Necessary information was gathered over the duration which the observation and field work of the research was carried out. The Result reveals that the amount of waste generated per day within the Obafemi Awolowo University Campus is 0.69kg/day = 0.00038m³/day that is judging by the density of municipal solid waste being 1800kg/m³. The result also reveals there is little or no difference comparing the situation of the University fifteen years ago with the present in relation to the way waste is managed and sensitization of the inhabitants of the university campus should not be relented on.

Key Words: Waste disposal, Waste management system, Obafemi Awolowo University, per capita waste generation