Assessment of Solid Waste Management Practices in Onitsha Market, Anambra State

This study assesses the solid waste management practices at Onitsha Main Market in Anambra State, South East Nigeria, one of the largest open markets in West Africa. Rapid commercial activity in the market generates enormous volumes of organic waste, plastics, and mixed refuse daily, yet the effectiveness of current collection and disposal arrangements remains poorly documented at the undergraduate research level. The study employs a descriptive survey design, combining structured observation, waste generation surveys, and interviews with 150 traders, market association officials, and Onitsha North Local Government waste officers. A waste audit measured daily generation by category across five market sections. Findings show that organic waste constitutes 58 percent of total daily generation, with plastics and paper each contributing approximately 14 percent. Formal waste collection reaches only 43 percent of market sections, with the remainder relying on open burning or disposal into drainage channels. Market association committees attempt informal waste coordination but lack enforcement authority or equipment. Seasonal variation is significant, with festive periods showing a 42 percent increase in waste generation without corresponding increases in collection capacity. Traders express willingness to pay additional levies for improved services, provided collection schedules are reliable. The study concludes that management failures in Onitsha market are institutional rather than purely financial. Recommendations include formalising market waste management contracts between the Local Government and a licensed waste operator, installing segregated collection points in each market section, and creating a market environmental management committee with defined enforcement powers. Keywords: solid waste management, market waste, Onitsha, waste generation, environmental management.