Assessing Urban Waste Management Challenges in Kaduna Metropolis

Solid waste management in Kaduna Metropolis, the capital of Kaduna State and a major industrial and administrative centre in Nigeria's North West geopolitical zone, is under severe strain from population growth, inadequate collection infrastructure, and institutional coordination failures that leave large volumes of waste uncollected across residential and commercial areas. This study assesses the spatial distribution of waste generation, collection efficiency, and disposal site conditions in Kaduna Metropolis using a combination of field surveys, waste characterisation sampling, and institutional data from the Kaduna State Environmental Protection Authority. Waste generation estimates were derived from two-week waste audit exercises conducted at 60 stratified household sampling points across Kaduna North, Kaduna South, and Chikun local government areas. Collection route mapping and vehicle utilisation records were obtained from the KEPA to assess coverage gaps and route efficiency. Disposal site audits were conducted at three designated landfill sites, recording waste volume, leachate management, and encroachment conditions. Results indicate that formal waste collection reaches only 52 percent of Kaduna Metropolis, with the lowest coverage rates in high-density low-income wards of Rigasa and Kawo. Organic waste constitutes 68 percent of the sampled waste stream by weight, representing a significant untapped resource for composting and biogas production. All three landfill sites show evidence of uncontrolled leachate discharge affecting adjacent drainage channels. The study recommends ward-level collection service redesign, composting pilot schemes, and closure planning for the most degraded disposal sites. Keywords: solid waste, waste management, Kaduna, North West Nigeria, urban environment.