THE EFFECT OF METHANE EMISSIONS FROM LANDFILLS IN NIGERIA

THE EFFECT OF METHANE EMISSIONS FROM LANDFILLS IN NIGERIA (ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE PROJECT TOPICS AND MATERIALS)

Abstract

This research examines the implications of land fill emission and their impact on Nigeria. This has somesocio economic and political implications on sustainable development, while the management of waste is a matter of national and international concern. Recent events in major cities of world have shown that the problems of waste management have become a “monster” that has aborted most efforts made by international, federal governments, and state city authorities. It has been established that the process of waste management contributes to increasing generation of green house gases that causes climate change and ozone layer depletion.

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

• Background of the study

The increase in population as a result of industrial revolution in major towns and cities of the world have necessitated rapid growth or high rate of urbanization and development for instance; Nigeria cities in recent time have witnessed rapid population growth resulting from influx of migrants from rural area to the cities. This brings about the concentration of industrial, commercial, infrastructural, administration and government activities in urban centers. Thus, as the population of cities grows, the rate of waste generation also increases leading to increase burning of refuse (in the developing countries) and high rate of air pollution ,which increased concentration of green house gases that causes global warming and eventually Climate change. In the last decades the greenhouse gases produced by human activities have been predominating over those of natural origin (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change-IPCC, 2000), thereby upsetting the natural atmospheric balance. This increased concentration of greenhouse gases (GHGs) raises global temperatures which have adverse impacts on our environment and public health. The waste sector is a significant contributor to GHGs emissions and is accountable for approximately 5% of the global greenhouse budget (IPCC, 2006). The majority of these emissions are a result of landfills, which remains the primary waste disposal strategy globally (Attenborough, Gregory,& McGeochan, 2002). Municipal solid waste (MSW) contributes to greenhouse gas emissions through decomposition and life-cycle activities/ processes (Farguhar and Rovers, 1973). The greenhouse gases emissions related to waste deposits are mainly due to methane (CH4) and carbon dioxide (CO2) present in the biogas produced by anaerobic bacteria using as carbon source the biodegradable carbon contained in the waste (Hoeks, 1983; Barlaz, Ham & Schaefer, 1990). In particular the disposal of waste in landfills generates methane that has high global warming potential (Yesiller, Hanson and Liu, 2005). Energy consumption contributes directly to climate change by adding carbon-based molecules to the atmosphere in excess of naturally occurring amounts.

THE EFFECT OF METHANE EMISSIONS FROM LANDFILLS IN NIGERIA (ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE PROJECT TOPICS AND MATERIALS)