African Journal of
Environmental Science and Technology

  • Abbreviation: Afr. J. Environ. Sci. Technol.
  • Language: English
  • ISSN: 1996-0786
  • DOI: 10.5897/AJEST
  • Start Year: 2007
  • Published Articles: 1119

Article in Press

Solid waste sorting and storage practices in the University College Hospital, Ibadan, Nigeria: How environment-friendly?

AFON Abel Omoniyi and AKINPELU Olusegun Peter

  •  Received: 27 August 2018
  •  Accepted: 28 September 2018
The study investigated solid waste sorting and storage practices in the different activity areas of the University College Hospital, Ibadan, Nigeria. The hospital was stratified into eight major groups. The groups consisted of 101 units, out of which 42 units were areas, where mixture of medical and non-medical waste were produced. The remaining 59 units were areas where only non-medical waste was generated. Using purposive sampling technique, forty-one (41) units were selected for survey, 27 units from medical and non-medical areas, while the remaining eleven (11) units belonged to areas where only domestic waste were produced. Questionnaire was administered to a cleaner in each of the sampled units. Data obtained were analyzed using descriptive statistics. The study showed that only pathological and sharp materials were sorted. Other waste components were stored in the same storage receptacle. Eleven (11) types of storage receptacles were identified, only four (36.4%) of the receptacles conformed to World Health Organisation’s recommendations. The receptacles were big, small, and wheel bins; and safety box. The study concluded that sorting and storage practices in the study area were not environment-friendly. Therefore, it is recommended that efforts should be geared at ensuring compliance with international best practices on medical waste sorting and storage. Keywords: Environment-friendly; Generation; Medical waste; Non-medical waste and Storage receptacle.