THE POTENTIALS OF PLASTIC WASTES RECYCLING IN MAIDUGURI METROPOLIS

One of the greatest environmental challenges that is confronting Maiduguri metropolis in Borno State – Nigeria is the fact that there is ever increasing disposals of plastics after used into the waste stream which of course cannot decompose even if buried in the ground making our farm lands not suitable for farming purposes and also causing environmental pollution. Owing to approximately 481 tons of plastic bags brought into Maiduguri every year excluding those produced by plastic companies within the metropolis and plastic containers, which of course are disposed off after used and generally the effects of plastic wastes which relates to its disposals such as habitats for rodents, odours, suffocation and eventually death when swallowed by animals, hence, the need to investigate the potentials of plastic waste recycling in Maiduguri metropolis. This study was conducted to investigate the effects of disposing plastic wastes in landfills, the economic importance of recycling plastic wastes and techniques for plastic waste management. Plastic waste samples were collected from industrial and municipal wastes of Maiduguri metropolis for recycling purpose. From the recycling process conducted and the result obtained, 105kg of plastic scraps, packaged water bags and plastic film bags were collected from municipal wastes and recycled with approximately 90.36kg plastic pellets reclaimed. Also, 85kg of black film bags and white thick bags were collected from industrial waste in which approximately 81.22kg pellets were reclaimed. These figures give a total of 90.31% recycling efficiency from a total of 190kg of plastic wastes collected with 171.58kg recovered. Therefore, from the results obtained, plastic wastes recycling in Maiduguri metropolis should be encourage which has the potentials of boasting the economic sector, job creation for unemployed youths and most importantly tackling environmental and health hazards posed by the high presence of plastic wastes send to waste stream after used which cannot decompose.