International Journal of Scientific and Research Publications, Volume 10, Issue 9, September 2020 800

ISSN 2250-3153

Characteristics of Market Solid Waste in Akure, Ondo

State, Nigeria
*Ajama Aderonke Perpetua and Ofoezie Emmanuel Ifeanyi**

* Institute of Ecology and Environmental Studies, Obafemi Awolowo University

**Institute of Ecology and Environmental Studies, Obafemi Awolowo University

DOI: 10.29322/IJSRP.10.09.2020.p10595
http://dx.doi.org/10.29322/IJSRP.10.09.2020.p10595

Abstract- The patterns of solid waste generation, collection, or at other regular intervals such as every four days or at most
disposal and treatment in Oja Oba and Odopetu markets in Akure every week. Some of these activities involve processes that
South local government area in Akure, Ondo State, Nigeria has generate varying types and volumes of solid waste also of varying
been investigated. This was to determine the efficiency of waste characteristics. The hygienic condition of markets usually
management in the markets. A descriptive cross-sectional method depends on the framework established for the management of
was used to collect information from shop owners on waste these waste in each market. Such frameworks are either weak or
generation, storage disposal, and treatment. The instrument absent in several Nigerian markets and that is why the problem of
adopted for the study was a structured questionnaire administered solid waste management has remained a concern in all economic
to randomly selected 419 and 16 shop owners from Oja Oba and sectors of the country (Mbah and Nzeadibe, 2017). Abigo et al.
Odopetu respectively. The study population reflected the sizes of (2016) observed that the solid waste challenges seen in the larger
the markets. Three pre-labelled polythene bags were assigned to population also exist in most Nigeria markets. These challenges
each participant with an instruction on how to keep different types include but not limited to the inefficient collection methods,
of waste. The bags were retrieved three times a week (Monday, insufficient coverage of the collection system and improper
Wednesday and Friday) for six weeks, sorted, counted (where disposal and treatment of waste. These inefficient management
possible) and weighed to determine the type, number and quantity systems could lead to several unexpected consequences such as
of waste generated. Data obtained were analysed using appropriate environmental pollution, blockage of drainage systems,
statistical methods. Results obtained revealed that on the order of unpleasant odours, flooding and health hazards. While efforts are
number of waste types collected was polythene > paper/carton > being made at all levels of government to improve solid waste
plastics > glass/electrical/electronics in Oja Oba and paper management, information is required from all sources to capture
>polythene > plastics > glass/electrical/electronics in Odopetu all affected areas particularly the markets where diverse and large
market. For waste weight the order was bulk of waste is constantly generated (Ogwueleka, 2010).
glass/metal/electrical/electronic >putrescible > plastic > paper > Information on the characteristics of waste in markets located in
polythene in Oja Oba and putrescible >.plastic > polythene > paper Akure, the capital of Ondo State is sparse, so are the systems
in Odopetu. There is no management structure in Odopetu but employed by the market authorities to manage such wastes. This
although there is a waste management authority in Oja Oba paper presents the findings of a study carried out to provide basic
modern facilities were either lacking or inadequate. There was no information on types of waste generated in some selected markets
time frame for waste evacuation in Odopetu but takes a week or in the city, as well as the patterns of waste generation, disposal and
more in Oja Oba. The study concluded that waste management treatment in each of the selected markets. This was with the view
was poor ineffective in both markets. for providing information that could go a long way towards
effective planning for a sustainable waste management in the
Index Terms- Solid waste, management, Oja Oba, Odopetu, markets.
Akure South, Nigeria
II.
I. INTRODUCTION III. RESEARCH ELABORATIONS

M arkets are authorized public concourse where buyers and

sellers of commodities meet to browse the merchandise in
search of what best to spend money on (Benova et al., 2014). As
The Study Area
Two markets (Oja-Oba and Odopetu) were selected for study in
Akure, Akure South Local Government Area in Ondo State,
an indispensable medium for chain commodity distribution, they Nigeria. Akure lies between Longitudes 007°5´-7°19´N and
play very vital roles in the economic life of individuals and Latitudes 05°5´-5°20´E (Fig. 1). It is the administrative capital of
communities. Besides, markets strengthen the economic base of Ondo State, comprises of two local government areas (Akure
towns and also sustain the tax base of local authorities (Ojo, 2008; South and Akure North) and has a total population of 491,033
Okemakinde, 2016). They also provide platforms for social according to 2006 Census figures (Macaulay and Odiase, 2016).
interaction among people of diverse cultures, socio-economic The population is predominantly of Yoruba ethnic group although
backgrounds and sellers and buyers of diverse goods (Vargo and
Lusch, 2008). Activities in some of these markets take place daily
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people of other ethnic groups in Nigeria such as Igbo, Hausa,

Fulani etc. constitute more than 10%.

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Figure 1: Map of Study Area Showing Sampling Points

Study Design and Data Collection an instruction on how to keep different types of waste in three
Two markets investigated were the smallest and biggest of 13 categories of waste types. The categories were; Category “A”
markets in the local government area (LGA). Both descriptive and (Paper, plastic, tins, nylon, cloth and glass waste), Category “B”
cross-sectional study designs were utilized to collect mixed data (Garbage, food waste, agricultural waste) and Category “C”
(qualitative and quantitative) for the study. Instruments used to (Electrical, electronic and battery waste). The bags were retrieved
collect qualitative data were key informant interviews and three times a week (Monday, Wednesday and Friday) for six
structured questionnaires while weighing scales were used to weeks. At the point of retrieval, waste held by each bag was sorted,
weigh waste materials. Key informant interviews were conducted counted (where possible) and weighed to determine the type,
among key decision makers including (i) Heads of Sanitation and number and quantity of waste generated.
Primary Health Care Departments at the State Waste Management
Board and the chairpersons of market associations. These Ethics and Consent to Participate
respondents provided information on the patterns and methods of The ethical approval with number IPHOAU/12/853 was approved
collecting solid waste in the markets, method of waste disposal as by the Ethical Committee of the Institute of Public Health of the
well as treatments of solid waste at the dump site. They also Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria. Respondents’
provided information on fees charged for services and penalties gave their consent freely and willingly after they were briefed
for defaults. about the purpose of the study and were informed that
For the purpose of this study, each selected market was divided participation was voluntary and refusal to participate attracts no
into sections based on predominant goods sold in different parts of penalty. Personal identifiers were removed in the data to ensure
the market. The sections were food stuff, clothes, provisions, confidentiality.
kitchen utensils, among others. Inventory of stalls in each section
was then undertaken and systematic sampling technique used to Statistical Analysis of Data
select stalls that participated in the study. All participating stalls The study response rate was 98.9% and the outcome of the
met some pre-defined inclusive criteria. These were (i) that the univariate responses were presented in frequency and percentages
current user of a selected stall must have been using the stall for at while the differences in group response to each question were
least 6 months prior to this study. (ii) that the said user accepts to evaluated using Chi-square test from the Contingency table. Chi-
be enrolled to the study and to keep waste in accordance with the square was also used to assess differences in the number of waste
study design (Francis et al., 2016). A total of 440 stalls owners generated by stalls and sectors in the study areas. Differences in
were enrolled for participation in the study. Pretested semi- mean weight of waste collected from different markets were
structured questionnaire was administered to each participant. The determined using the t-test for variables with two levels, while
questionnaire collected information on the respondent’s bio-data, One-way Analysis of variance (ONE WAY) was used analyse
type and rate of waste generation, patterns of waste disposal as variable with more than two levels. All the decisions on the
well as perception and acceptance of the activities of waste significance were made at p-value of 0.05 or less.
management authorities. Three polythene bags of standard waste
colours were assigned to each participant with

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IV. RESULTS 41-50 152 4 156

Socio-Demographic Profile of the Respondents 50+ 49 3 37
A total of 440 stalls (one participant/stall) were selected out of 2-value (df= 3) 15.90
which 435 (98.9%) that met all inclusive criteria participated. p-value <0.01
Table 1 presents the socio-demographic characteristics of the Marital Status
participants. Four hundred and nineteen (419) of the participants Single 57 1 58
were selected from Oja-oba market and 16 from Odopetu market Married 356 15 371
to reflect the proportionate size of the markets. Most of the Widow/Widower 6 0 6
participants were females 275 of 419 (65.6%) and 14 of 16 2-value (df= 2) 1.36
(87.5%) in Oja-Oba and Odopetu markets, respectively. Most p-value >0.05
respondents in Oja Oba were Christians (349, 83.3%) while Ethnic Group
majority in Odopetu were traditional worshippers. Most Yoruba 280 14 294
respondents in both markets were Yorubas (280, 66.8%; 14, Hausa 11 - 11
87.5%) and married (356, 85.0%; 15, 93.8). Furthermore, while Igbo 102 1 103
slightly above a half (236, 56.3%) of respondents had a secondary Others 26 1 27
education in Oja Oba, slightly above a third (6, 37.5%) in Odopetu 2-value (df=3) 4.71
had either had a primary or a secondary education. Their ages p-value >0.05
ranged from 20 to 70 years, though, the age group 31-40 years had Religion
the highest number of participants (201, 46.2%) while age group Christian 349 5 354
20-30 years had the least number (25; 5.97%). Statistically, the Muslim 68 4 72
age-distribution was significantly different (p< 0.01). Most of the Traditional 2 7 9
respondents 418 (96.1%) had spent more than 5 years trading in 2-value (df=2) 44.13
the market by the time of this study. This is a clear indication that p-value <001
most participants have a good knowledge of the market. Educational Background
Statistically, only the distribution of gender, age and religion None 11 3 14
varied significantly in the two markets investigated. Primary 91 6 97
Secondary 236 6 242
Table I: Demographic Characteristics of Study Participants in Tertiary 81 1 82
Oja-Oba and Odopetu Markets, Akure 2-value(df= 3) 10.51
Parameter Oja-Oba Odopetu Total p-value >0.05
Gender Number of years spent in the market (years)
Male 144 2 146 1-2 7 0 7
Female 275 14 289 3-4 10 0 10
 -value (df= 1)
2 3.88 5+ 402 16 418
p-value <05 2-value(df= 2) 1.30
Age-group p-value >0.05
20-30 25 1 26 Total 419 96.3 435
31-40 193 8 201

Respondents’ Account of Waste Generation and Disposal in access roads in the market. On materials used to collect waste in
the Markets shops, almost equal number of respondents in Oja Oba said they
The frequency of generating different types of solid waste use either dustbin or sack while in Odopetu, more than four fifth
according to the respondents in the markets is shown in Figure 2. said they use sack while less than a fifth (12.5%) use bin. The
Polythene waste was the most frequently generated in the two pattern of variation in all the variables was significantly different
markets (65%) while can and bottles where the least (0.2%). The (p<0.05) in both markets investigated. Almost 99% of respondents
respondents reported sources of polythene waste to be disposed said that the final destination of waste they generated was the state
packages for food, water and other items. Over 90% of dumpsite while slightly above 1% said they burn their waste.
respondents in Oja Oba said the waste management authority
collects their wastes either daily or weekly while in Odopetu all
the respondents said they dispose their waste themselves because
there is no waste management authority in the market. In Oja Oba
about 48% of respondents said they do take their waste to
collection centres while over 50% said waste management
vehicles collect waste directly from their stalls. It was observed
that waste was collected directly only from shops located on

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Figure 2: Components of Solid Waste Commonly

Generated
Types and Quantities in the Study
of Waste Area
Generated
The number and weight of major types of solid waste collected
from the markets are presented in Table 4. On the basis of most
countable, the order of occurrence of the waste collected was
polythene > paper/carton > plastics > glass/electrical/electronics
in Oja Oba and paper > polythene > plastics >
glass/electrical/electronics in Odopetu market. The polythenes
comprised mainly of nylon bags, disposed sachet water packages
etc. The plastics were disposed buckets, jerricans, pipes, bottles
and, basins of different sizes. The glass, metal, electric and
electronic waste comprised of discarded bottles, glass wares,
radios, cans, metal rods, pipes, wires and containers, telephones,
batteries and touch lights. The waste weight was in the order
glass/metal/electrical/electronic > putrescible > plastic > paper >
polythene in Oja Oba while in Odopetu the order was putrescible
Table II: Generation, Collection and disposal of Waste in
>.plastic > polythene > paper. It was observed that most of the
Oja-Oba and Odopetu Martkets, Akure
putrescible generated from the grocery section in Oja Oba were
Parameter Oja-Oba Odopetu Total (%)
(%) (%) quickly collected by livestock managers to feed ruminant animals.
Material used to collect waste in the stall
Comparison of the two markets investigated showed that for each
Bin 209 (49.9) 2 (12.5 211(48.5)
Sack 210 (50.1 14 (87.5 224(51.5) type of waste, more was significantly generated in Oja Oba than
2-value (df= 1) 7.19
Odopetu both in terms of total number and weight as well as
p-value <05
Frequency of waste disposal number and weight of each waste type per individual.
Daily 218 (52.0) 16 (100) 234 (53.8)
Weekly 200 (47.7) 0 (0) 200 (46.0)
Monthly 1 (0.2) 0 (0) 1 (0.2)
2-value (df= 2) 20.37
p-value <0.01
Who disposes the waste
Respondent 38 (9.1) 16 (100) 54 (12.4)
*MWMA 381 (90.9) 0 (0) 381 (87.6)
2-value (df= 1) 93.01
p-value <0.01
Location of final disposal
Dumpsite 413 (98.6) 2 (12.5) 415 (95.4)
Private burning pit 6 (1.4) 14 (87.50 20 (4.6)
2-value (df=1) 88.33
p-value <0.001
*MWMA =Municipal Waste Market of Authority

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Table III: Types and Quantities of Waste Generated in Oja-Oba and Odopetu Markets, Akure, Akure South Local
Government Area (20th of Feb- 6th of May, 2017)

Waste type Number of Waste Waste Weight (kg) Mean number Mean weight

Oja Oba Odopetu Oja Oba Odopetu Oja Oba Odopetu Oja Oba Odopetu
(168) (8) (168) (8) (168) (8) (168) (8)

Putrescible 502.63 101.09 2.99 12.64

Polythene 8774 252 36.82 1.24 52.23 31.5 0.22 0.16

Plastic 377 12 48.07 3.83 2.24 1.5 0.29 0.48

Paper 3035 260 40.70 0.94 18.07 32.5 0.24 0.12

Glass, metal and 71 0 2768.0 0 0.42 0 16.48 0

Electronics

Total 12,257 524 3,396.22 107.10 72.96 65.5 20.22 13.39

V. DISCUSSION wastes such as plastic bottle and cartons were been sorted out for
sale. According to Ofoezie and Bulu (2015), burning of waste has
This study examined waste generation and management in a big generally been condemned as the worst method of waste
(Oja Oba) market and a small (Odopetu) market in Akure South treatment. It is also unethical and environmentally unacceptable.
local government area in Akure, the capital of Ondo State, Nigeria. These findings agree with reports from some previous studies
The aim was to determine the effects of size of markets on waste including Okojie et al. (2000), Awosusi, (2010) and Benedine et
generation and management in the study area. al. (2011). The finding that there is no formal arrangement for
waste evacuation in Odopetu market and that in Oja Oba where a
Findings from the study revealed that in terms of weight, management authority exists, it took over a week to evacuate
putrescible and electrical, electronics, metal and can were the most waste generated and stored in more than half of the stalls is a clear
important waste types generated in the markets. Ironically, the sign of poor waste management. The implication of this untimely
latter waste group was the least frequently encountered waste but evacuation of waste in the markets could be serious to the traders’
its enormous weight may be explained by its relatively large size. health and to people resident within the market perimeter
This trend is in agreement with the findings of Maso et al. (2008) (Obayelu, 2012). According to Nwankwo (2004), improper
which investigated municipal waste characteristics in Nicaragua. disposal of solid waste constitutes a serious threat to human health
It also agreed with the findings of municipal waste appraisal in and to the achievement of sound environmental sanitation.
different parts of Nigeria (Amori et al., 2013; Amalu and Ajake,
2014). The percentage composition of putrescible recorded in this VI. CONCLUSION
study (40.44%) was however, low compared with the records of
Awoniyi (2016) in Alaba market, Lagos State, and Topanou et al. The findings of this study have shown that enormous amount of
(2011) in Benin Republic. Paper waste (29.3%) obtained by this different types of waste is generated in the markets investigated in
study was more than four times (6.6%) higher than those obtained Akure, Ondo State, Nigeria. The quantity of waste generated
by Aye et al. (2006). There was an increase in the percentage of varied significantly depending on the size of the markets, sections
plastics (nylon and plastic) (11.32%) compared with a previous of the markets and type of waste involved. Generally, more waste
record of 7% by Oyawale et al. (2016) in the study area and was generated in Oja-oba than in Odopetu. It was also concluded
Tharanathan (2003). The results also revealed that the overall that waste management was very poor in the two markets
number and weight of all types of wastes were higher in Oja-oba investigated. Open dumping and burning of waste which are the
than Odopetu market. Also with the exception of paper waste, the two worst waste treatment options are adopted with no plan of
per capita waste generation was also higher in Oja Oba than improvement. It is concluded that unless these methods of waste
Odopetu. This could be explained by the apparent population treatment are updated, waste management in the markets will
differences between the markets. remain poor and unacceptable.

Although open burning was a primary treatment option in Odopetu ACKNOWLEDEGMENT

market while in Oja Oba where waste management authorities I appreciates the effort of Mr. Adebayo Abdulquddus Adelayo
collect waste from individual generators, the ultimate treatment during the process of the publication.
was still open burning though at the dumpsite while some of the
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