Abstract:
Poor waste management in Nigeria results in environmental and socioeconomic
problems. Managing wastes through the agelong approach of burning leads to climate
change while landfill leachate reduces soil and ground water quality. Limited number
of studies exist on the potential impact of managing wastes using waste-to-energy
recovery generation (ReGen) technology in Nigeria and how waste-to-energy (WtE),
environmental quality (EQ), and sustainable development (SD) are connected.
Therefore, this study investigated the technoeconomic and environmental impact of
using ReGen for waste management in Nigeria.
Environmental Kuznets Curve (EKC) hypothesis provided theoretical framework. Data
on indicators of WtE in Nigeria were sourced from the World Development Indicators
(1981-2017). These indicators include WtE, environmental footprint, green national
net income, human development index, fossil energy consumption, per capita income,
energy consumption, capital investment, urbanisation, trade intensity and land quality
index. Augmented Dickey Fuller was used to ascertain the stationary of the variables
specified in the model. The bound test was preferred based on the stationary of
variables at level and at difference. Since the variables are cointegrated at difference
order, the secondary time series methodology described as Autoregressive Distributive
Lag (ARDL) was used to estimate the short and long run relationship of the model.
Thus, the relationship among WtE, EQ and SD was analysed using ARDL technique at
α=0.05. The bound test was used to test for cointegration among the study variables.
Technoeconomic viability of ReGen was evaluated with Cost Benefit Analysis.
Values of the bound tests (F-Statistics) stood at 19.23 and 5.64 which are above the
upper critical values of 4.76 and 3.83 respectively at 5% p-value. This showed that
there is cointegration indicating the presence of both short and long run relationship.
The coefficient of 5.02 implies a positive relationship between WtE and EQ, that is, a
1% increase in WtE, leads to 5.02kt increase in EQ. The coefficient of 1.25 indicates
inverse relationship between WtE and SD, which means, a 1% increase in WtE,
reduces SD by 1.25kt. The WtE significantly drove EQ and SD. Though in 2017, WtE
affected EQ and SD negatively, however it translates to positive development in the
long run. EQ and energy consumption exhibit positive relationship in the short to long
run. The existence of EKC hypothesis in Nigeria was established, which contributed to
environmental degradation at the early stage and declined with increasing economic
growth in the latter stage. The generating cost of ReGen electricity was $0.71/kWh
with 6-8 years payback period and better environmental socioeconomic benefits than
equivalent diesel generators. The ReGen reduced waste by 90.0% with 332 kW net
energy output from 980 kg waste/hour.
The technoeconomic and environmental assessment of waste-to-energy enhanced
environmental quality and sustainable development between 1981 and 2017 in
Nigeria. The use of waste-to-energy recovery as a technology for solving waste
management problems is adequate, economical and environmentally viable.
Government should provide enabling environment for increased investment in wasteto-energy recovery generation.
