The Significance of Recycling To Sustainable Waste Management Practices

Waste is one of the few things in life. Although unavoidable, only a lack of proper management can make it a burden. The rising urbanization and changing habits are in themselves another naturally occurring phenomenon due to the economic situation and ongoing innovation in all sectors. However, it tends to be accompanied by an increasing quantity of solid waste, produced municipally, hence the requirement for a waste management solution. The issue of waste management is a historic and present problem in Nigeria. Indiscriminate disposal of municipal solid waste is a major disturbance in developing countries and is blamed on poverty, poor governance, and a lack of environmental awareness.

Efficient management of waste is a global concern due to the inter-regional effects of pollution through the air, water, and even land media. Thus, a worldwide solution is required, which demands extensive research and development that works towards exploring newer applications for a sustainable and safe environment. 

Municipal solid waste means waste obtained from residential settlements and services. It also includes waste released from establishments used for trade or industry. However, most of the waste is generated from domestic sources and is most characteristic of household waste.

Solid Waste Management is a field of study associated with the production, collection, storage, transfer and transport, processing, and disposal of solid wastes in a way that conforms with the best dictates of public health, conservation, engineering, economics, aesthetics, and other environmental considerations (Tchobanoglous et al., 1993). A solid waste management solution therefore comprised of a collection point, storage, transfer or transport, processing, recycling, and disposal aspects. Under each aspect, there exist different methods, which eventually serve the same goal. Waste management systems have existed as far back as the pre-colonial era, when environmental sanitation was practiced mainly at the household level and community sanitation. It has continued to experience innovation, till this day of integrated waste management systems.

Collection and disposal used to be the only waste disposal techniques available. However, such waste management method have become outdated and inefficient, considering the ever-growing human population. Also, the high cost attached to waste collection and transportation is estimated at about 40–60% of the total waste management cost (H. Jouhara et al., 2017). Additionally, the discovery of short- and long-term environmental and human dangers associated with landfills and dumpsites coupled with several other disadvantages. Extensive studies and research brought about the discovery of other waste management methods, which include source reduction, recycling, composting, and incineration (burning).

Generally, waste could be divided into different types, such as domestic waste, factory waste, waste from oil factories, E-waste, construction waste, agricultural waste, food processing waste, bio-medical waste, Nuclear waste, etc. (Omofonmwan et al., 2009). Municipal waste could, however, simply be put into 2 groups, which are:

• Biodegradable waste comprises kitchen waste (including food waste of all kinds), flower and fruit waste, including juice peels and house-plant waste, garden sweeping or yard waste consisting of green/dry leaves, sanitary wastes, green waste from vegetable & fruit vendors and shops, waste from food & tea stalls and shops, etc.  
• Non-biodegradable waste, which includes Paper and plastic, of all kinds, cardboard and cartons, containers of all kinds, excluding those containing hazardous material, packaging of all kinds, a glass of all kinds, metals of all kinds, rags, rubber, ashes, foils, wrappings, pouches, sachets and tetra packs (rinsed), discarded electronic items from offices, colonies viz. cassettes, computer diskettes, printer cartridges, and electronic parts, discarded clothing, furniture and equipment

Ever since recycling has been introduced, it has gained heavy traction due to its immense importance in reducing the amount of waste ending up in landfills and dumpsites. The invention of recycling in waste management has converted waste management from a mere activity aimed at keeping the environment clean to a major economic sector, boasting of huge financial gain and hence enticing investors.

Development and practice of suitable integrated municipal waste management are not an option for any community, considering the damning repercussion of the opposite. Apart from seriously affecting the aesthetic value of any community, it is public knowledge that diseases can be contracted from vectors like flies and mosquitoes, which breed on solid and liquid waste. Improper waste management is a major threat to the environment due to the extensive long- and short-term damage it can cause to the soil, climate, air, water, animals, plants, and human life in general. As such, the development of sustainable management waste is crucial to the continued existence of human life on earth.