Assessment of Waste Management Methods in Osun State: A Review

Abstract

This review evaluates waste management methods in Osun State, Nigeria, where municipal solid waste generation averages 500–700 tons daily, with organic materials comprising 60–70% of the total. Despite coordination by the Osun Waste Management Agency (OWMA) under the 2016 OWMA Law, challenges persist, including low collection coverage (60% in urban areas and 30% in rural regions), widespread open dumping, open burning, and improper mixing of hazardous waste. Current practices integrate formal door-to-house collections through private sector partners, informal scavenging for recyclables, and limited treatment options such as composting and biogas pilots, but inefficiencies in storage, transportation, and disposal contribute to environmental issues like groundwater contamination, elevated PM2.5 levels exceeding WHO limits, and public health risks including cholera outbreaks (Anwo, 2025; NESREA, 2024; Gbadebo et al., 2022).

The analysis identifies critical gaps in infrastructure, regulatory enforcement, and public awareness, while highlighting opportunities such as utilizing high organic content for composting and biogas production, expanding public-private partnerships, and incorporating GIS and digital tools for monitoring. Recommendations emphasize strengthening OWMA's institutional capacity, promoting source segregation with incentives, enforcing laws through technology-enabled patrols, and upgrading landfill sites. These targeted interventions, informed by local contexts, aim to enhance collection efficiency, reduce pollution, and advance circular economy principles, thereby aligning Osun State's practices with Nigeria's National Solid Waste Management Policy and United Nations Sustainable Development Goals to protect environmental integrity and public health.

Keywords: Waste management, Osun State, Nigeria, Solid waste, Recycling, Sustainability, Environmental degradation

Introduction

Waste management remains a pressing challenge in rapidly growing urban centers across developing countries such as Nigeria. With annual solid waste production reaching millions of tonnes and expected to rise dramatically due to rapid urbanization, expanding informal settlements, and insufficient formal collection systems, many communities—especially low-income neighborhoods—face inadequate waste services. This situation leads to widespread illegal dumping, open burning, and associated environmental and public health hazards (Aliu et al., 2023; World Bank, 2023). Despite policies aimed at sustainable waste practices, challenges persist, including inadequate infrastructure, low collection coverage, improper disposal, and limited public awareness (National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency [NESREA], 2024).

Osun State, located in southwestern Nigeria, typifies these challenges as it grapples with increasing volumes of household, commercial, agricultural, and industrial waste. The Osun Waste Management Agency (OWMA) is mandated to oversee solid waste management in the state, yet many areas remain underserved, particularly rural regions where collection coverage drops below 30% (Osun Waste Management Agency [OWMA], 2024). Waste disposal remains dominated by open dumping and burning, leading to environmental degradation such as groundwater contamination, air pollution, and increased disease risks (Gbadebo, Olanipekun, & Arowolo, 2022; Olukanni, Oresanya, & Obueri, 2021).

Given this context, there is a critical need to assess the existing waste management methods employed in Osun State to identify strengths, limitations, and opportunities for improvement. This review aims to synthesize available data on waste generation, collection, disposal, institutional frameworks, and emerging practices within Osun State. Through this assessment, the paper seeks to inform policy reforms and pave the way for more sustainable, health-conscious, and economically viable waste management solutions aligned with Nigeria's National Solid Waste Management Policy and global sustainability goals.

Waste Management Practices in Osun State

Waste management in Osun State is coordinated by the Osun Waste Management Agency (OWMA), established under the 2016 OWMA Law to handle collection, transportation, treatment, and disposal of solid waste across 30 local government areas (LGAs). With daily generation of 500–700 tons (60–70% organic from households, markets, and palm oil industries), practices mix formal OWMA efforts with informal systems, achieving only 60% urban coverage and 30% rural (OWMA, 2024; NESREA, 2024).

Collection and Transportation: Urban areas like Osogbo and Ile-Ife get door-to-door service from OWMA's 50-truck fleet and 45 private partners, twice weekly via skips or bins. Rural spots rely on informal wheelbarrows or scavengers recovering 40% recyclables unsafely. GPS pilots optimize routes but spillage hits 20–30% due to bad roads (Adelakun, 2025; Adeyemi & Ojedokun, 2019). Some of these Private Partners are also assigned to some cluster areas within Osogbo and other neighboring towns such as Ife, Ede, Ikirun, Ilesa, Ilobu, Ifon, Iragbiji, Iree among others.

Storage and Segregation: Waste is stored in open bags or drums without sorting—80% mixed, hindering recycling. OWMA pushes color-coded bins via campaigns, but compliance is low (