Sustaining a Healthy Environment whilst Utilizing Wastes as Energy Sources: Physicochemical Analysis of Solid Wastes in Awka, Nigeria

The physicochemical properties of solid wastes were determined to unravel the individual components of solid wastes such as density, moisture content, and percentage mass. The chemical composition of each waste component was also determined. Methods adopted in the determination included the load count and mass volume methods, the proximate and ultimate analysis method. Collectively, the percentage chemical constituents were obtained from the different solid waste samples analyzed. Energy values obtained from the constituents are 47.6 and 47.10 kJ/kg when Dulong’s and Davies’ formula were applied, respectively. The results revealed that paper and cardboard, metals, plastics, and wood make up the highest composition in the five major waste dumpsites studied in Awka, Nigeria. It also showed that carbon and oxygen contents are high in most of the solid waste components when compared to other chemical constituents and that these wastes can be converted to useful energy in furtherance of sustainable development.