Pa ge 1 Pa ge 24 American Journal of Environment and Climate (AJEC) A Diagnostic Study of Household Solid Waste Management in Kollo, Niger Hassimi Moussa1, Laminou Manzo Ousmane2, Bachir Yaou Balarabe3*, Hassoumi Djibo4, Mohamed Hafidi5 Volume 1 Issue 3, Year 2022 ISSN: 2832-403X (Online) DOI: https://doi.org/10.54536/ajec.v1i3.1050 https://journals.e-palli.com/home/index.php/ajec Article Information ABSTRACT Received: December 04, 2022 Accepted: December 08, 2022 Published: December 18, 2022 Household solid waste management is one of the most prevalent problems in urban areas. This study aims to diagnose the household solid waste management system in the Kollo urban district of Niger. Specifically, the purpose of this study is to identify household waste types, determine their management methods at the household level, and estimate how much waste is produced daily. A survey of 200 households was conducted as part of the study. As a result of the study, four types of household waste, namely sand, organic matter, plastics, and others, were identified. At the scale of an urban municipality, waste production is estimated to be 9.44 tons per day or 0.72 kg per inhabitant per day. Additionally, only 47% of households have garbage cans for storing waste. Most households use trash cans with a capacity of 0.015 m3, with 27.5% evacuating waste daily, 50% twice a week, and 22.5% once weekly. 35 % of households dispose of waste in wild dumps, 30% dig pits to bury waste, 15% burn it openly, 15% use the waste to fertilize their fields, and 5% make other uses. The municipality provides no waste management service. The organization lacks the financial and technical resources to accomplish its goals. Kollo’s urban municipality, however, must develop strategies for managing waste sustainably and environmentally. Keywords Management, Solid Waste, Household, Urban Municipality, Kollo 1 Department of Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Agronomic Sciences, Boubakar Bâ University of Tillabéri, Tillabéri, Niger 2 Department of Rural Engineering and Water & Forests, Faculty of Agronomy and Environmental Sciences, Dan Dicko Dankoulodo University of Maradi, Maradi, Niger. 3 School of Engineering and Technology, National Forensic Sciences University, Sector-09, Gandhinagar, India 4 Department of Socio-economics and Consumer Sciences, Faculty of Agronomic Sciences, Boubakar Bâ University, Tillabéri, Niger 5 Ecology and Environment Laboratory, Faculty of Sciences Semlalia Marrakech, Cadi Ayyad University, Morocco * Corresponding author’s e-mail: atpscontact@gmail.com INTRODUCTION The production of waste is a natural consequence of all aspects of human activity, be it domestic, agricultural, industrial, or commercial, which is an unavoidable by- product of everyday life. The practice is not considered a public issue in Africa until it reaches urban areas (Alouemoune, 2006.). Despite being universal, this problem manifests differently in different parts of the world. Solid waste is produced in Africa daily in thousands of tons. Most of these wastes are disposed of in open landfills and wetlands, which can contaminate surface and groundwater and pose serious health and environmental risks. It is estimated that some cities and regions produce between 0.5 - 0.8 Kg of waste per person per day (Babalola et al., 2010b; Sotamenou, 2018). However, even though it seems modest compared to 1-2 Kg of waste per person and per day in developed countries, the majority of waste in Africa is not collected by municipal collection systems due to poor management, irresponsibility, embezzlement, equipment failure, or inadequate waste management budgets (Saidou & Aminou, 2015a). In general, household waste refers to all materials generated within a household. Food waste, journals and papers, small metallic packaging, bottles, paper or plastic packaging, chiffons, and other textile residues. Garden and other plant waste can be included in this category. Cities in developed and developing countries face a significant challenge as population, prosperity, and urbanization increase. It is becoming increasingly difficult to collect, recycle, treat, and eliminate solid waste and water (Holenu Mangenda et al., n.d.; Tchuikoua et al., n.d.-a). To achieve sustainable development in developing countries, effective, affordable, and genuinely eco-friendly waste management practices are required. Sustainable development requires effective, efficient, and long-term waste management practices in developing countries. Along with the cultural dimension, long-term management of solid waste should take into account the poverty of the population. The cost of disposing of waste in Niger, as in most southern countries, has become increasingly unaffordable for municipal authorities. As far as the sustainability and effectiveness of interventions are concerned, economic and financial factors play a key role. Each strategy should consider the ability of citizens to contribute to the collection and disposal of household solid waste. This is because of the economic difficulties that these populations face. There is no doubt that financial issues account for many of Maradi’s failures(Saidou & Aminou, 2015a). It is estimated that the city’s budget is very limited, and the royalties collected are low. Penda (2015) reports that the urban population in Niger is overwhelmingly poor, has very low incomes, and is largely analphabetic. Often, green spaces, school fronts, health centers, or market surroundings are used as dumping grounds for trash. People are forced to seek alternative methods of disposal of their waste when garbage collection is unreliable or nonexistent, with the sole aim of removing them from their homes. In some cases, waste is disposed of in natural disposal facilities. Some people burn, bury, or spread their waste on open spaces or use it to repair roads that have been damaged by flooding (Adamou, 2014). The result is chronic insalubrity in the cities of Niger due to the lack of systems for pre- collection, storage, collection, and treatment of solid https://doi.org/10.54536/ajec.v1i3.1050 https://journals.e-palli.com/home/index.php/ajec Pa ge 25 https://journals.e-palli.com/home/index.php/ajec Am. J. Environ. Clim. 1(3) 24-29, 2022 household waste. Even though these tools are available, the Niger government’s waste management system does not meet the needs of its citizens. In this regard, Kollo’s urban community is no exception. African cities have conducted studies to address all of the inadequacies and poor practices associated with the management of solid waste (Babalola et al., 2010a; Holenu Mangenda et al., 2020; Saidou & Aminou, 2015b; Solomon, 2009; Topanou et al., 2021). This paper provides an overview of the management of household solid waste in the Tillaberi region of the Niger Republic’s western region, Kollo, one of the largest urban communes. MATERIALS & METHODS Zone of study This study was conducted in the municipality of Kollo, and 13°25’ north and longitudes 2°17’ and 2°27’ east (Figure 1). In 2022, it is expected to have 44,550 residents based on a 3.1% annual growth rate (INS, 2012). Agriculture, livestock, irrigated crops, and fishing are the principal economic activities of the commune (PDC, 2012). This study was descriptive and cross-sectional, with households as the unit of analysis. Participants must be at least 20 years of age and reside in one of the selected communities. Furthermore, they must have lived in the area for at least one year. The selected individuals were enrolled after giving their consent. Sampling Data were collected through a household survey and field observations. In this study, we only looked at the urban population of the municipality, which was 17,867 residents [OLM1] (about 2,620 households). From 2,620 households, 200 were sampled and distributed in six (06) districts of the urban center of the commune, which were considered the most densely populated residential areas. The number of households in each neighborhood was calculated based on the weight “P” of each neighborhood. The table below shows the distribution of household surveys by district, the distribution of households by district, and the number of inhabitants. P = n/N…………………………………(1) Nm = P x E……………………………..(2) P: neighborhood weight, N: total number of households in the neighborhoods considered, n: number of households per neighborhood, Nm: number of households to be surveyed in the neighborhood, and E: Sample size 2.3. Figure 1: Kollo municipality location map (PDC, 2012) located in the Kollo district of the Tillabéri region in Niger. A semi-urban community covering an area of approximately 146 km² located between latitudes 13°11’ Table 1: Distribution of households surveyed by neighborhood, type, number, and size Neighborhoods Populations Number of households Neighborhoods weight Sample Number of persons Average size of households Kollo Sahara 2550 364 0.14 28 357 8,5 Kollo Fandou 4595 656 0.25 50 230 8,2 Kollo Carré 4000 571 0.22 44 95 7.9 Kollo Madina 1105 158 0.06 12 203 8,1 Aoula Koira 2095 322 0.12 25 420 8,4 Sirignéré 3521 549 0.21 42 370 8,4 Total 17866 2620 1 200 1675 8,25 Survey data collection Methods To collect survey data, individual interviews were conducted based on questionnaire sheets. Each district surveyed randomly selected households. To ensure a representative sample, each household had the same probability of being picked for the survey. Known as the “step” method. We selected Step 4 to cover a significant portion of each neighborhood. Thus, if house N°1 is the first house observed in the street, the fifth house will be the next to be examined. Following the survey of four houses, a change of direction is made. Estimation of waste amount In this context, measuring the amount of waste produced per day and per resident is difficult since most waste is not stored in bins. Therefore, three parameters were taken into consideration: (i) the average capacity (volume) of the bins identified, (ii) the number of households with bins per storage capacity, and (iii) the frequency of trash disposal. Analysis of results Microsoft Office Excel spreadsheets and SPSS version 22 were used to enter and process the survey data. To assess respondents’ knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding waste management, proportions were calculated and compiled into a table and figures. RESULTS Waste typology Based on the surveys, four types of waste have been https://journals.e-palli.com/home/index.php/ajec Pa ge 26 https://journals.e-palli.com/home/index.php/ajec Am. J. Environ. Clim. 1(3) 24-29, 2022 identified, including sand, organic matter, plastic, and others, which are grouped with textiles, metal, glass, ceramics, etc. The following figure shows the percentage of respondents who answered questions about household waste’s physical characteristics. The response modes are independent, so a respondent may select several responses simultaneously (Figure 2a). According to this figure, 42.14% of households describe their waste as composed of organic matter, plastic, sand, etc. It is followed by Figure 3: Volume of trash cans Figure 2: (a)-Household waste characteristics, (b)-Households with or without trash cans, waste storage at the household level: (c)-Households without trash cans, (d)-households with trash cans 27.27% with organic matter and plastic, 15.06% with organic matter, plastic, and others, and 15.53% with plastic and others. The most common household wastes are organic matter and plastics. Identification of households with or without bins As shown in Figure 2b, 53% of the households surveyed do not have trash bins to store their waste; instead, they pile them up on the ground (Figure 2c&d). Volume of Trash can As shown in Figure 3, three types of trash cans are used in households to collect and store solid waste. In general, 70% of households use 0.015m3 containers, followed by 24.56% using 0.06 m3 containers and 5.44% using 0.15m3 containers. Frequency-based waste production estimation Table 2 presents waste volumes evacuated by households with bins of 0.015m3, 0.06m3, and 0.15m3 per day and week. The results show that 27.50% of households with 0.015m3 bins dispose of an average volume of 1.155m3 daily. Additionally, 50% of households dispose of their waste twice a week, i.e., 0.6m3, and 22.50% once weekly, i.e., 0.135m3. A total of 1,890m3 of waste was disposed of. In the case of households with 0.06m3 bins. Over- identified households disposed of 1.680m3 daily; 42% disposed of twice a week, i.e., 0.720m3; and 29% once a week, i.e., 0.240m3. A total of 2.640m3 of waste was evacuated. Lastly, for households with 0.15m3 bins. As a result, 100% of households with bins containing an average of 0.150m3 remove their waste once a week, resulting in an average of 0.450m3. Using the volumes evacuated and the density of the waste, daily waste production can be estimated. Approximately 0.47 kg of waste per liter is generated in Niger’s households (Devant, 2003). In this way, we estimated the average individual daily production at 0.72 kg. https://journals.e-palli.com/home/index.php/ajec Pa ge 27 https://journals.e-palli.com/home/index.php/ajec Am. J. Environ. Clim. 1(3) 24-29, 2022 Practices for waste disposal and evacuation In most households with children, waste disposal is prevalent. Field waste is evacuated with carts, while waste intended for pits or wild dumps is evacuated with As future citizens, we need to be responsible and have a positive attitude toward life, the land, and the environment. A large amount of waste is also accumulated in this municipality. Wild deposits of these wastes can be found in habitat zones, ravines, gutters, and abandoned wells. A similar situation has been described by Soro et al. in the district of Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire (Soro et al., n.d.). Kollo’s household waste composition is not unique, but it is similar to that of other African cities that also produce household waste. In Niamey, household waste consists mainly of organic matter, plastics, and sand, according to Penda (2015) (Adamou, 2014). In their diagnostic study of household solid waste management in Abidjan, Soro et al. (2010) reported plant waste as 23.7%. Plastics, bags, textiles, paper, animal waste, stones, glass and ceramics, metals, hospital waste, and toxic waste accounted for 23.2% (Soro et al., n.d.). Managing household solid waste is dependent upon household collection. Most households in Kollo do not have waste collection bins in their homes but keep them in a corner or front of the house. However, this is not a widespread problem. In Tillabéri, Niger, Mohammed reports that 76% of households possess trash cans within their concessions (Akbari et al., 2020). In addition to the urbanized nature of Tillaberi, the capital of the Region, there are several explanations for this situation. Almost half of the households evacuate their waste twice a week, others once a week, and the rest daily. The waste production ratio in the municipality of Kollo is close to that of Penda (2015), estimating the average daily production per inhabitant in Niger at 0.75 kg (Adamou, 2014). Household waste disposal is entrusted to the children of the household. This is consistent with the observation of Sotamenou (2018), who reports that it is women and children who are mainly involved in transporting waste from their homes to a landfill or a garbage bin. He adds that in Morocco, for example, 50% of women and 20% of children are responsible for transporting waste outside homes. The problem that arises here is, above all, to know whether the children who are responsible for evacuating the waste receive the necessary instructions from their parents or the persons in charge of the services in charge of hygiene and sanitation to dump garbage in the right Figure 4: Household Solid Waste Disposal Practices wheelbarrows. According to survey results (Figure 4), landfilling is the most commonly used waste disposal method among households (35%). Approximately 30% of households buried their waste, 15% incinerate it in the open air, 15% use it as agricultural amendments, and 5% dispose of it otherwise. 5% of households fill rainwater gullies with waste. Garbage is accumulated and abandoned by households in the urban commune of Kollo near housing, on vacant lots, in public places, and in open gutters. Most households are satisfied with their practices, especially those who live near ravines or in areas where rainwater stagnates. In contrast, others are not. These households use garbage dumps, and uncontrolled dumps installed next to homes. Families living next to food shops with garbage. The waste left in landfills and pits emits foul smells and attracts flies and mosquitoes. DISCUSSION As a result of the survey, 38% of the population is illiterate. However, 42% have a primary level of education, 17% have a secondary level, and only 3% have a higher level of education. The population of Kollo is undereducated and cannot adopt proper waste management behaviors. Education is based on eco-citizenship, according to Tchuikoua (2010) (Tchuikoua, Louis Bernard, n.d.-b). Table 2: Weekly and daily waste disposed of by households with bins with average capacities of 0.015, 0.06, and 0.15m3. 0,015 m3 trash cans Frequency Everyday Twice a week Once a week Proportion of households 27,5% 50% 22,5% Volume /week (m3) 1,155 0,600 0,135 Total volume / week (m3) 1,890 0,06 m3 trash cans Frequency Everyday Twice a week Once a week Proportion of households 29% 42% 29% Volume /week (m3) 1,680 0,720 0,240 Total volume / week (m3) 2,640 0,15 m3 trash cans Frequency Everyday Twice a week Once a week Proportion of households 0 0 100% Volume /week (m3) - - 0,450 https://journals.e-palli.com/home/index.php/ajec Pa ge 28 https://journals.e-palli.com/home/index.php/ajec Am. J. Environ. Clim. 1(3) 24-29, 2022 place (Sotamenou, 2018). This does not seem to be the case because, in some neighborhoods with collection infrastructure, garbage is sometimes dumped on the ground near housing and along roads. In contrast, the dumps intended to receive them are empty despite their proximity to households. This situation is similar to that experienced in Kinshasa, described by Likoli (2007), more precisely in the Commune of Limete. According to this author, in almost all the markets of this commune, mounds of rubbish litter the aisles of the places where foodstuffs are sold. However, households that do not dispose of their waste mostly correspond to large concessions at the corner of which waste is piled up, as reported by Lelo (2008) (Benoît et al., 2021b; Lelo Nzuzi, 2008). In the commune of Ngaliema, 91% of households have plot gardens where they bury household waste. According to Mohamed (2019), 64% of households in Tillaberi dispose of their waste through landfills and wild animals, 15% through incineration, 4% through private service providers, and 1% through burial (Akbari et al., 2020). Many of the waste disposal practices used in the commune are hazardous to the health of the residents, including malaria and diarrhea. However, Niger has enacted a framework law on environmental management and quality of life. As part of this law, municipalities can delegate all or part of their responsibility for solid waste management. In addition, they can define responsibilities and establish the principle of integrated and environmentally sound waste management. Other African cities are also experiencing the same problem. Indeed, Benoît et al. found that waste management in the Mambanda district of Douala, Cameroon, is very similar to that of Kollo. As per Benoît et al. (2021a), 50% of households have mosquitoes running rampant, 33.23% have mice, 10.7% have cockroaches, and 5.9% have flies. It is the poor management of waste that causes such diseases as malaria, typhoid fever, cholera, diarrhea, etc., to spread. Abidjan’s yellow fever epidemic that struck the city in 2005 led to victims in precarious neighborhoods, including Yopougon, according to (Dongo et al., 2008; Dongo, n.d.). Towards the settlement of Kollo, according to the head of the hygiene and sanitation service (SHA), the management of household solid waste there is characterized by a lack of financial means, materials, and equipment, as well as by the inadequacy of the SHA, which is exacerbated by the incivility of some households in the evacuation of waste. CONCLUSION In the study, poor practices in solid waste management were revealed at the household level, as well as their shortcomings. A key point to note was that waste collection and disposal were inappropriate. As a matter of public health and the environment, this should be of concern. In light of this situation, the population and the public authorities are under pressure to develop practical and lasting solutions. In addition to creating a pleasant living environment, effective waste management can provide socio-economic and energy opportunities for the future by recovering material and/or energy from waste streams. It is, therefore, necessary to integrate the management of this resource into the planning of municipalities. According to the recommendations, it would be of particular importance that the municipality and, indirectly, the government properly fulfill their roles in ensuring the population’s safety. This is because improper waste storage exposes the population to severe risks. In the future, studies can focus more on the actual effects of these wastes on the environment. Acknowledgments The authors would like to extend their appreciation to the Department of Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Agronomic Sciences, Boubakar Bâ University of Tillaberi. Conflict of interest The authors have declared no conflict of interest. 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