Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: The city of Ngaoundere collected and delivered to the landfill an average of nearly 39,000 tons of household waste per year, most of which is collected without prior sorting and directly disposed of in landfills, thus exposing the city and its inhabitants to environmental and health contamination risks. This study aims to provide some technical data useful for developing appropriate waste recovery strategies for the solid waste generated in the city of Ngaoundere. To this end, the study was conducted in the city’s three districts. The solid waste delivered to the landfill was quantified and then categorized during the dry and rainy seasons of the Vina Department. The fermentable fraction then underwent physicochemical characterization. The results show a predominance of fermentable waste (57.5%), followed by textiles (9.2%), plastics (7.7%), and cardboard (6.9%). These four categories represent 81.3% of the waste collected. Composites, paper, unclassified combustibles, and fine particles (sand and dust) constitute between 2% and 4%. Non-combustible materials, glass, and metals are less abundant (1% to 2%). The waste has a slightly neutral pH (7.6), an average moisture content of 52%, a high volatile matter content (74.5%), and a favorable C/N ratio (26.8), indicating strong potential for composting and biological recovery. These results provide essential information for public authorities and private stakeholders to plan appropriate waste management strategies, including source separation, composting, methanization, and recycling. The study thus highlights the need to transform household waste into valuable resources, contributing to sustainable management and the promotion of the circular economy in the city of Ngaoundere.
Language: English
Subfield: Waste Management and Disposal
Field: Environmental Science
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: diamond
OpenAlex ID: W7165046641