Author(s) :

Onuigbo, M. C., Mshelia, R. B..

Volume/Issue :

Abstract :

Climate change is an existential threat to the biodiversity of the earth. The increase in average global temperature occasioned by increase in anthropogenic greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions into the atmosphere is causing droughts, floods, melting of glaciers which leads to rise in sea levels, submerging of coastal areas and islands. The need for the mitigation of the impacts of climate change so as to prevent further devastation of the earth and its biodiversity has become imperative. The solid waste sector and electricity sector being responsible for about half of the total anthropogenic GHG emissions of the earth serve as a good starting point for curbing of GHG emissions. This research studied the potential for the mitigation of climate change through the conversion of municipal solid waste (MSW) to electricity in Gombe, the capital of Gombe state in the North east of Nigeria. The study found that currently, the city dumps its waste in an open dumpsite and that that solid waste management (SWM) technique results in the emission of 82.195tCO2eq/yr into the atmosphere. It was also found that if the SWM technique of open dumping is replaced by incineration with electricity recovery, approximately 285,320.4kWh/day of electricity can be generated, and that will be able to satisfy the electricity needs of 2,717 houses. In the same vein, it was found that the emission of 33,405.85tCO2eq/yr can be avoided by adopting incineration as a preferred SWM technique in Gombe instead of open dumping. In a relatable term, that is the equivalent to the amount of GHG emissions that can be sequestered from the atmosphere by 1,336,200 trees. The study suggests that Gombe adopts incineration with energy recovery as its preferred SWM technique and that other states in Nigeria should also consider that.

No. of Downloads :

14