International Journal of Human Capital in Urban Management
Quarterly Publication

Potential for energy recovery from municipal plastic wastes generated in Nigeria

https://doi.org/10.22034/IJHCUM.2019.04.05
Volume 4, Issue 4 - Serial Number 16
Autumn 2019
Pages 295-302
International Journal of Human Capital in Urban Management

Document Type : CASE STUDY

Authors

O.F. Olusunmade 1
T.A. Yusuf 1
C.O. Ogunnigbo 2

1 Department of Mechanical Engineering, College of Engineering, Federal University of Agriculture, Makurdi, Nigeria

2 Department of Mechanical Engineering, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria

Abstract
Management of municipal solid wastes (MSW) in most developed societies now involves the use of thermo-chemical conversion methods. This leads to energy and material recovery while also protecting the environment. However, till date most of the wastes generated in Nigeria (including plastic wastes) are either land-filled or openly burnt. These methods are not sustainable and environmentally non-friendly. The reason is that so much space will be needed to accommodate the ever increasing wastes as a result of land-filling and open burning leads to environmental pollution and health challenges. Also, the inherent energy in plastic wastes, as a result of the fact that they have their origins from oil and gas, is not recovered for the benefit of meeting the energy requirements of the populace. Meanwhile there is serious inadequate supply of heat and electricity, the production of which could be improved if the plastic wastes are also applied for electricity and heat generation. This study estimated the amount of energy loss due to the prevailing method of disposal adopted for plastic wastes in terms of quantity of oil and electricity that could have been produced if thermo-chemical approaches were adopted for these wastes. It showed that about 17.3 million barrels of crude oil (worth about $1 billion) and 7.1 million MWh of electricity (capable of powering 4.4 million households) could be produced from the plastic wastes generated in the country. Therefore, plastic wastes should be embraced and treated as a resource rather than “wastes”.

Graphical Abstract

Potential for energy recovery from municipal plastic wastes generated in Nigeria

Keywords

Electricity
Nigeria
Plastic wastes
Pyrolysis
Waste-to-Energy (WTE)
Subjects
4R Sustainability, (2011). Conversion technology: A complement to plastic recycling. American Chemistry Council.
ACC, (2005). How plastics are made. American Chemistry Council.
Al-Salem, S.M.; Lettieri, P.; Baeyens, J., (2010). The valorization of plastic solid waste (PSW) by primary to quaternary routes: From re-use to energy and chemicals. Prog. Energy Combust. Sci., 36(1): 103-129 (27 pages).
Boslaugh, S.E., (2018). Pyrolysis.Encyclopædia Britannica.
Brigitta, B.; György, B., (2016). Polymer waste: Controlled breakdown or recycling? Int. J. Des. Sci. Tech., 22: 109-138 (20 pages).
Bodzay, B.; Bánhegyi, G., (2016). Polymer waste: controlled breakdown or recycling?. Int. J. Des. Sci. Tech., 22(2).
Garside, M., (2019). OPEC oil price annually 1960-2019. Statistica.
GBB, (2013). Gasification of Non-Recycled Plastics from Municipal Solid Waste in the United States. The       American   Chemistry Council.
Haig, S.; Morrish, L.; Morton, R.; Onwuamaegbu, U.; Speller, P.; Wilkinson, S., (2018). Plastics to oil products: Final report. Zero Waste Scotland.
Hoornweg, D.; Bhada-Tata, P., (2012). What a Waste: A Global Review of Solid Waste Management. Urban development series; knowledge papers no. 15. World Bank, Washington, DC.© World Bank.
Kaza, S.; Yao, L. C.; Bhada-Tata, P.; Van Woerden, F., (2018). What a Waste 2.0: A Global Snapshot of Solid Waste Management to 2050. Urban Development; Washington, DC: World Bank. © World Bank.
Koushal, V.; Sharma, R.; Sharma, M.; Sharma, R.; Sharma, V., (2014). Plastics: Issues Challenges and Remediation. Int. J. Waste Res.., 4(1): 1-6 (5 pages).
Kunwar, B; Cheng, H. N.; Sriram,  R. C.; Brajendra K. S., (2016). Plastics to fuel: a review. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 54: 421–428 (8 pages).
NBS, (2017). Demographic Statistics Bulletin. National Bureau of Statistics.
NPC (2013). Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey. Nigeria Population Commission.
Oguntoyinbo, O., (2012). Informal waste management system in Nigeria and barriers to an inclusive modern waste management system: A review. Public Health, 126 (5): 441-447 (7 pages).
Olaniyan, K.; McLellan, B.C.; Ogata, S.; Tezuka, T., (2018). Estimating Residential Electricity Consumption in Nigeria to Support Energy Transitions. Sustainability, 10(5): 1-22 (22 pages).
Olusunmade, O. F., (2019). Plastic wastes separation practice and disposal mechanism by households, hospitals, markets and waste management body. Int. J. Hum. Capital Urban Manage., 4(3): 189-204 (16 pages).
Olusunmade, O. F.; Bulus, A. E.; Kashin, T. K., (2018). Effect of Imperata Cylindrica (IC) reinforcement form on the tensile and impact properties of its composites with recycled low density polyethylene (RLDPE). ACTA Polytechnica, 58(5):292-296 (5 pages).
Olusunmade, O. F.; Zechariah, S.; Yusuf, T. A., (2018). Characterization of Recycled Linear Density Polyethylene/Imperata Cylindrica Particulate Composites. ACTA Polytechnica, 58(3): 195-200 (6 pages).
Plasticisrubbish, (2013). Naphtha and Oil derived plastics.
PlasticsEurope, (2018). How plastics are made.
Themelis, N.; Mussche, C., (2014). Energy and economic value of municipal solid waste (MSW), including non-recycled plastics (NRP), currently landfilled in the fifty states. USA: Earth Engineering Center. 1-40 (40 pages).
UNEP, (2017). Ethiopia’s waste-to-energy plant is a first in Africa. United Nation Environmental Programme.
Wienenergie, (2014). "Spittelau - The thermal waste treatment plant", Technical Brochure.
Wong, S.L.; Ngadi N.; Abdullah T.A.T.; Inuwa I.M., (2015). Current state and future prospects of plastic waste as source of fuel: a review. Renew Sustain Energy, 50:1167–80 (14 pages).
  • Receive Date 23 June 2019
  • Revise Date 12 August 2019
  • Accept Date 07 September 2019

Home

Authorship

Submit Manuscript

Indexing and Abstracting

Editorial Board

Unrestricted Reuse in Compliance with BOAI

Open Access Policy

Self-Archiving Policy

Privacy Statement

Publisher Business Model

Publisher and Sponsor

Contact Us