article · PubMed
A study conducted at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital and College of Medicine, University of Lagos compound evaluated the quantity and composition of solid waste generated across campus activities. Assessing commercial, residential, administrative, and academic areas revealed that the facility produces approximately 14.775 tonnes of waste each day, corresponding to a rate of 0.29 kilograms per capita per day. Plastic and polythene materials formed the largest overall fraction at 31.1 percent, followed closely by organic waste at 23 percent. The specific composition varied significantly by location: organic refuse dominated commercial zones, plastics were the primary component in residential sections, and paper made up the largest share in administrative and academic areas. Based on these findings, institutional managers are advised to design zero-waste programmes covering source reduction, collection, recycling, composting, stakeholder training, and incentives.
Managing waste effectively requires understanding what is thrown away and where it originates. By quantifying waste streams across different functional areas, large institutions such as hospitals and university colleges can transition toward sustainable operations. This baseline data helps planners target recycling programmes and organic composting initiatives, ultimately reducing municipal environmental burdens and setting benchmarks for broader community waste strategies.
The data can inform operational waste recovery strategies for campus administrators, municipal authorities, and waste-management service providers seeking targeted recycling and composting programmes. Because this research is an observational assessment rather than a developed commercial technology, it represents early-stage baseline evidence that would require implementation through dedicated collection infrastructure, recycling partnerships, or facility management contracts to achieve practical impact.
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BACKGROUND: Higher Education Institutions are expected to lead the paradigm shift in waste management by adopting strategies that will contribute to sustainable development in their operations. The impact of these innovations will expectedly diffuse to their surrounding communities. Waste composition studies in HEIs enables the identification of campus-specific opportunities for waste reduction and recycling. The aim of this study was to assess the quantity, composition of solid waste generated by the staff and students of the Lagos University Teaching Hospital and College of Medicine, University of Lagos (LUTH/CMUL) compound. METHODS: The study was a descriptive cross-sectional study conducted in the LUTH/CMUL compound. Solid waste generated from the commercial, academic and research; administrative and residential areas were quantified and characterized during the study. Solid waste generated in the four activity areas collected were sorted, classified and weighed using a weighing balance. RESULTS: An estimated 14.775 tonnes of waste is generated daily from the compound with a waste generation rate of 0.29/kg/capita/day. Plastic and polythene bags made up majority (31.1%) of the total solid waste generated in the compound followed by organic waste (23%). In the commercial area, organic waste (57.21%) formed majority of the waste, plastics formed the majority (22.95%) of the waste in the residential areas and paper waste was mostly generated in the administrative area (41.22%) and, the academic and research areas (36.10%). CONCLUSION: The quantity and composition of the solid waste generated are affected by the activities ongoing in the different categorized areas. A solid waste management scheme hinged on a zero waste policy should be designed by the LUTH and CMUL authorities. This scheme should tackle reduction of waste at source, efficient waste collection from generation points, waste recovery, recycling and composting, proper training of stakeholders and provision of incentives.
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