Waste Collection and Disposal Service Gaps in an Urban Community of Kano State, Nigeria

Abstract

Effective urban waste management depends not only on the generation of waste but also on the availability, accessibility and reliability of collection and disposal services. This study examined household waste collection and disposal services in Bompai Community, Kano State, Nigeria, with emphasis on disposal methods, access to designated collection facilities, collection frequency, residents’ satisfaction and socioeconomic characteristics associated with disposal choices. A quantitative cross-sectional survey was conducted among 177 respondents selected from 1,298 residential buildings across four districts of Bompai Community. Data were analysed using frequencies, percentages, multinomial logistic regression and the Pearson chi-square test of independence. The findings show that informal private waste collectors, locally referred to as “Baro boys”, constituted the principal disposal arrangement, reported by 59.9% of respondents, while 24.9% relied on open dumping. Access to designated waste bins or collection points was limited, with 75.7% reporting that such facilities were not available near their homes. Formal private collection was also irregular: 45.8% reported irregular collection and 32.2% reported no collection. Consequently, 91.0% of respondents were dissatisfied with the existing waste-disposal system. The multinomial model showed significant associations of age, occupation and income with disposal method, while education was not significant. Disposal method was also significantly associated with residents’ satisfaction. The study concludes that the waste-management problem in Bompai is closely connected with weaknesses in service provision and infrastructure. It recommends improved collection coverage, accessible collection points, reliable service schedules, stronger monitoring and the regulated integration of informal collectors into the urban waste-management system.

Keywords: household waste, waste collection, informal collectors, service delivery, residents’ satisfaction

DOI: 10.7176/RHSS/16-3-03

Publication date: October 28^th 2026