Operations Management Strategies for Improving Efficiency in Solid Waste Collection in Kano Metropolis

Solid waste collection in rapidly urbanizing Nigerian cities presents complex operational management challenges involving routing efficiency, fleet maintenance, workforce scheduling, and citizen compliance. This study examines operations management strategies for improving solid waste collection efficiency in Kano metropolis, North West Nigeria, home to an estimated four million residents. The research employs a mixed-methods approach, combining a review of the Kano State Waste Management Authority's operational data with semi-structured interviews conducted with 12 senior managers and a structured survey of 45 operational supervisors. Current collection route lengths, truck fill rates, trip frequencies, and workforce utilization are benchmarked against operational standards from comparable urban waste management operations in sub-Saharan Africa. Operations management deficiencies identified include non-optimal routing, high fleet downtime due to inadequate preventive maintenance, and irregular workforce scheduling. A route optimization model based on the travelling salesman problem heuristic is developed for three representative collection zones and demonstrates potential distance savings of 24 percent per collection cycle. Recommendations encompass fleet preventive maintenance scheduling, digital route tracking, performance-based workforce management, and community engagement in waste segregation. A structured operations improvement plan with quarterly milestones is presented as the primary output for management adoption. This research provides a professional-level operations management guide for urban solid waste collection authorities in North West Nigeria. Keywords: operations management, solid waste collection, Kano metropolis, route optimization, urban sanitation