Indian Journal of Traditional Knowledge Vol. 6(4), October 2007, pp. 642-647

Indigenous Knowledge System of waste management in Nigeria

LT Ajibade Department of Geography, University of Ilorin, 7 Ilorin, Nigeria

E-mail: edabijalt2001@yahoo.com Received 5 August 2005; revised 28 March 2007

The paper examines the Indigenous Knowledge Systems of waste management in Nigeria, with particular emphasis on waste reduction techniques of reuse and recycling. In spite of the efforts of public and private agencies, heaps of wastes are still seen in Nigerian major cities. This observation has directed concerns towards the exploration of the indigenous waste management practices for possible adoption. Any developmental effort must be culturally feasible and relevant. The study observes the existence of indigenous techniques of waste management which were hitherto adequate for the volume and types of wastes generated long before the growing population in Nigeria. The study recommends further research on the existing methods to be complimented with the scientific and technological efforts, creation of awareness, encouragement of industries and businesses, creation of processing facilities and Waste Marketing Board as well as allowing the Federal Environmental Protection Agency (FEPA) to stand and operate independent of the Ministry of Environment.

Keywords: Indigenous Knowledge Systems, Indigenous waste management, Indigenous reuse methods, Indigenous recycling methods, Nigeria

IPC Int. Cl.8: B03B, B07B,B09B

Wastes are rubbish/refuse or materials that are not needed and are economically unusable without further processing. It may be in liquid, gas, or solid form and originate from a wide range of human operations, such as industry, commerce, transport, agriculture, medicine, and domestic activities. Waste may be classified in many different ways, such as according to its origin (e.g. domestic, industrial, commercial, clinical, construction, nuclear, agricultural) or its properties (e.g. inert, toxic, inflammable). Without suitable treatment such waste becomes a source of contamination to the environment at large, leading to air pollution (e.g. acid rain or traffic pollution), water pollution, and oil pollution1. The amount of waste produced by human activities is increasing in most parts of the world, accompanied by problems of disposal1. Waste management problem has increased at an alarming rate in Nigeria in direct response to rising population growth and industrialization. This has even worsened with the adoption of the quick to use and quick to discard consumer habits which generate an endless stream of liquid and solid waste2. Interestingly, in spite of this, waste generation in Nigeria is still lower compared to the more developed countries of the world. Developed countries exercise the best management practices in waste handling and disposal, while the less developed countries including Nigeria, generally lack adequate means to handle and

dispose off many wastes in an environmentally safe manner3. In spite of the efforts of public agencies, waste management problem persists. The main reason for the pollution trading in the international market is poverty4. Until recently, Nigerians had not been concerned with solid waste disposal; their concern had not gone beyond physical removal of waste from the streets. It has been and still common practice to dispose of refuse by the most expedient method available. Such methods might be by open burning or the use of an open dump. But with an increasing population and rapid urbanization, solid waste is piling up faster than finding satisfactory places to put them5. This submission has directed concerns towards the exploration of indigenous waste management practices for possible adoption by Nigerians6,7. In nature, there is no such thing as waste, even the dead or discarded material from one part of an ecosystem is always used to benefit other parts8. Indigenous Knowledge System (IKS) Before the introduction of the organized knowledge, human beings had ways of doing things and these then reflected the culture, location, experience and environment of the individuals involve. These forms of knowledge still exist even now. The form of knowledge implied here is local

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and may differ from one region to the other. So, they are indigenous to the people who have them, after all this knowledge has been handed over from one generation to the other within that locality. The definition of indigenous knowledge has been of interest to so many people today because the new organized body of knowledge is built on the indigenous knowledge. People in different places define indigenous knowledge in different ways, but all have the same focus9-20. The practice of indigenous knowledge transient all activities of life and of interest in the paper is the waste management. In recent times, researchers have become more interested in annexing indigenous knowledge, preserving them for the future generation, building on them to improve on them, and making a better life and living for people from them. The plan for sustainable development and the numerous debates and international agreement towards sustainable development has also favored the conservation of indigenous knowledge. The reason for examining indigenous knowledge system of waste management therefore becomes justifiable. Solid waste management Solid wastes are those wastes or pollutants that are neither liquid nor gas. The major two sources of solid waste are the industries and the households. The industrial waste comes from various industries such as mining, oil and gas, agriculture and other industrial activities. The municipal solid wastes are derived from home utilities and small businesses around the homes. Of all industries, the mining industry produces the highest solid waste in the world3,21. Municipal solid waste containing garbage, rubbish and ash has resulted into a major problem especially in highly populated cities of the world. Passing through Lagos, Ibadan, Onitsha, Aba, Kaduna, Kano and some other populated cities in Nigeria, the municipal solid waste dumps all around can be noticed (Figs 1-4). The problem of municipal solid waste aggravated with the high population, the increasing consumption and usage of consumer items and packaging materials8. Management of municipal solid waste is very difficult now that the problem is higher. Even the developed worlds still find it difficult to do away with it. This notwithstanding, there are ways by which the situation is managed to a certain degree. The three suggested priorities to the solution of solid waste management include primary pollution and waste prevention, secondary pollution and waste

prevention, and waste management21. The first priority suggests measures of low waste approach, i.e. the methods by which waste could be reduced to the barest minimum. Changing industrial process to eliminate use of harmful chemicals, purchase of different products that are not environmentally harmful, reducing packaging materials in products, making products that last longer and are easy to repair, that can be recycled or reusable. The second and third priorities are high waste approaches. They encourage waste production and aim at managing it after production. The second priority includes the reuse, repair, recycle and compositing of products and so, it encourages the buying of recyclable and reusable products. The third priority is waste management by treating waste to reduce toxicity, incinerating waste, the burying of waste in landfills and the release of waste into environment for dispersal or dilution. Generally, the first priority is more desirable but less used in most places in the world, while the other two priorities are more in use as solutions rather than the waste prevention methods. In another way, Integrated Waste Management (IWM) has been identified as an emerging concept today; and this has to do with a set of management alternatives including reuse, source reduction, recycling, composting, landfill, and incineration22. Whereas, the last three suggest treatment of waste, the first three, have ultimate objective of reducing the amount of waste that must be disposed in landfills, incinerator or other waste management facilities. Hence, the option of reduction, reuse, recycling, and disposal are all important tools to safely manage wastes23. IKS of waste reuse and recycling Though, waste problem has not been pronounced for long in the less developed countries like Nigeria, it is known that there have been some local methods by which solid wastes were been reused or recycled. The knowledge of waste recycling and waste reuse is not a new one in the Nigerian context rather, it is the current sophistication involved that is rather new. Waste disposal facilities in developing countries are minimal, but substantial quantities are diverted for recycling1. The paper examines some waste reuse and recycling methods that were in use and were handed over through indigenous knowledge. The Indigenous Knowledge of waste recycling and reuse will cover the municipal solid waste basically, food waste, wood, yard waste and ash.

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Food and yard wastes It is common in Nigeria especially, in the western part to find food and yard wastes recycled to prepare animal feeds or another form of processed food, e.g. the processing of yam (Discorea spp – De Wild/Knuth) peals, cassava (Manihot esculentum – crantz inst) peals, farm weeds, excess fruits from farmland, etc. to feed domestic animals like goats (Capra hircus - oklahoma), rams (Ovis aries - oklahoma), pigs (Sas scrofa - oklahoma ) and cows (Bos indicus - oklahoma). These wastes are carefully collected, dried to save them from decomposing and then fed to animals. In the case of blood from slaughter house, blood processed into blood meal (donboro) is fed on other animals. There is the processing of yam peals for yam flour which is used to prepare amala, one of the respected meals in western Nigeria. Organic wastes It is a common practice to compost organic wastes from food, farmland, animal faeces, dead plants and animals. Organic wastes are put in a container, wet with some water, stirred and left for some time to decompose. After some months, the compost is then used as manure. In most parts of the northern Nigeria particularly, in Kano state, animal faeces are collected, dried and spread on farmlands as manure. Ash Ash is another common waste in the country, which is derived from wood and coal when used as fuel. Local soap preparation in the western part of Nigeria had ash as one of its major raw material. The popular black soap (ose dudu) was a type of secondary recycling of ash. Also, ash is often reused to wash off black smokes that stain cooking pots. Today, detergent is added and sold for the same purpose. Children were made to wash their teeth with ashes in those days. Animal parts There was also a popular practice of recycling animal bones, horns and tusks into useful materials. They are carved into plates, cutleries, flutes, ivories and decorating materials. Most of the ancient ivories found in Nigerian museums and Nigerian works found in other museums around the world are made from these animal parts. Goat (Capra hircus - oklahoma) horns were also useful for local medicine. They are often loaded with prepared herbs and local

soap, covered and tied with red, white or black piece of cloth depending on purpose. These are used as afose where certain incantations are read and commands / curses are rained on enemies. Cow (Bos indicus - oklahoma) tail ends are also used to prepare irukere in the Southwestern Nigeria, often used by the traditional rulers to distinguish themselves from other people. Agricultural wastes The society depends largely on farming and as such, majority of their waste emanate from unused parts of agricultural products. The bark of plantains (Musa giletii –De Wild.), banana (Musa martretiana – A. Chiv.) and cocoa (Theobroma caocao – Linn.) pods were used to prepare black soap. Coconut (Cocos nucifera – A. Chiv) shells were useful for cooking as fuel, while its leaves were used to weave mats. Today, coconut shells are even used for jewellery parts (Fig. 7). Shafts from maize (Zea mays – Linn.), beans (Vigna unguiculata – Linn./Walp) and guinea corn (Pennisetum americanum – Linn./K. Schum) are used as animal feeds. Palm (Elaeis guinensis – Jaca) remains/extract obtained during oil production is used as fuel for cooking. They are commonly called Ogunso in the southwestern Nigeria. Palm kernel oil is extracted, dried and used as fuel especially by the blacksmiths who recycle metals. Palm leaves are also used for weaving baskets and to produce brooms. Sometimes, palm trees are fell to extract sap for palm wine. The stems are often used as benches where people sit to play traditional game, Ayo. Weeds are used for mulching, while guinea corn stalk is used along with some other herbs to treat malaria. Metal wastes The recycling of most form of metals dates back to pre-school days. It was difficult to mine metals and so Nigerians make use of the ones they have over and over again by recycling them primarily. In all parts of the country, there are blacksmiths and goldsmiths that recycle metals. They melt old metals and use them to construct new desired instruments (knife, cutlass, hoe, axe), jewellery (necklace, rings, bangles), etc. (Fig. 8). Other wastes These are products that are imported to the rural areas. The cans and tins are usually used after the consumption of the food therein, for storing food,

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water, etc. and for producing local lanterns, funnel gallons, bread baking pans, and even boxes among others (Figs 5, 6, 9, 10). Used tyres, which are collected from the urban centres, are often used to produce slippers and ropes for drawing water from the well. Waste reuse tradition It was a taboo to waste anything that cost money in Nigeria. So, there was this reuse culture that has been planted into Nigerians indigenously. Every item used were structured for reuse. Even today, the sachets of hawked pure-water are used by horticulturists for flower nursery and paper wrappers are reused. The reuse tradition is what makes old newspapers useful for wrapping roasted groundnut (Arachis hypogea – Linn.) and pop-corn (epa and guguru) or akara, the popular fried bean cake. Apart from the fact that the reuse culture saves lots of money, it is highly conservative resulting in waste management. USA uses 18 billion disposable diapers each year and they all end up in landfills where they remain for entombed for centuries, which is a less in Nigeria due to the fact that reusable cloth diapers are mostly used21. Environmental Management Indigenous systems of waste reuse and recycling exist in Nigeria but have not been able to help appreciably. The reasons for this can be traced to two major ends. Firstly, the reuse and recycling methods have not developed to involve other forms of waste materials that have been brought up by new production. Secondly, the scale of waste produced surpasses the scale of reuse and recycling. The Indigenous Knowledge of reuse and recycling known in Nigeria can take care of waste that is from food, animals, and farmland. However, it can be said that the reuse tradition has helped in that it has at least, been extended to the new wastes. It becomes more relevant here as the relevance of man’s views in development efforts is explicitly highlighted9,24. All aspects of the environment exist for us only so far as they are related to our purpose. If you leave out human significance, you leave out all constancy, all respectability, all form. So, in any efforts geared towards human development (e.g. environmental management), it is pertinent to understand its logic and build gradually on the established systems. In Nigeria, systematic effort is needed for reuse, recycling and management of waste in place.

Conclusion This paper concludes that waste management knowledge is not alien to Nigeria. Indeed, the knowledge has been acquired from the past generations, and has been built upon. Traditional Nigerians also identify the need to concentrate efforts on reduction of waste such that disposal will be minimal vis-à-vis waste management problems. To this end, Nigerians possess the know how in respect of reuse and recycling of several waste materials as has been exemplified in this paper. For effective and efficient waste management in Nigeria, following are recommended: Efforts should be geared towards conduct of further researches, which will document various methods of indigenous waste reuse and recycling in all parts of Nigeria and other African countries. Worth being emulated is the practice in India, where food wastes are concentrated in special containers and the gas being emitted from the decomposed refuse used as cooking gas called biogas25. Awareness should be created by all means to let people know that most of what they consider as wastes are not wastes26. This can be enhanced by incorporating the concept of indigenous waste management in environmental education27. Beside this, training centres should be established to educate on waste reuse and recycling. Awareness should also be extended to people’s attitude to life for attitude is controllable and the right attitude towards certain basic principles of good conduct will help to cope with waste management problems9. Industries and business set ups should be encouraged to support recycling of variety of scale. In fact, industries should be encouraged to consider how their wastes from their products can be reused or recycled28. Even where industries cannot reuse their own wastes, they can sometimes recycle them for others to use8. Markets and processing facilities will also have to be developed to ensure that recycling is a sound financial venture. In order to assist this noble drive, there is need to establish what can be called Waste Marketing Board in Nigeria. The board will be responsible for reuse and recycling, buy the finished products and then, sell to the people. Attempt should also be made to assist ‘waste traders’ with soft loans so that they can be collecting / buying wastes from door to door. This is already in place in Kano state of Nigeria. It is hoped that the above recommendations will go a long way to change the present status of waste management in Nigeria because it will reduce wastes. Not only this, resources and energy that would be expended in the production of more products will be

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conserved; risks to health and the environment resulting from improper storage and disposal of waste will be reduced; valuable raw materials will be available for industries; the need for new landfills and incinerators will reduce; and will alleviate poverty in the country. References

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