Solid Waste Characterization in Private Health Institutions: Empirical Evidence from Ibadan Metropolis
Solid Waste Characterization in Private Health Institutions: Empirical Evidence from Ibadan Metropolis

Summary/Abstract: The study investigated the solid waste characterization in private health institutions in Ibadan metropolis, Nigeria. Primary data were obtained through the measurement of solid waste generated in the selected private health institutions segregated into sharps, plastic and nylon, paper, food waste, pharmaceutical, pathological components. PHI in each LGAs of Ibadan metropolis were stratified according to the services they render. Simple random sampling technique was used to select one PHI from each stratum for data collection. Waste components categorized as ‘others’ was the highest waste generated (10.68kg). This accounted for 23.6% of the total waste generated and a daily average of 0.51kg. The per capita waste generation was 0.01kg/head/day. The lowest waste component (0.38kg) generated was pharmaceutical waste and it represented 0.84% of the total waste generated. The daily average for this waste component was 0.02kg. The per capita generation of sharp waste components was 0.01kg/head/day. Food waste represented 19.2% of the total waste generated while nylon/plastic represented 18.4%. The study concluded that a better understanding of the composition of medical solid waste is fundamental in order to choose the best management approach sequel to generation. This study has shown that very little has been done on medical waste management in the study area. Thus, this study recommends that; the stakeholders (the state ministries of Environment and Health and the Oyo State Waste Management Agency) should pursue strict enforcement of legislation that will have a significant impact on the sorting, segregation and storage of medical solid waste in the study area.

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