Assessment of Solid Wastes Generation, Characterisation and Resource Recovery in Federal University of Health Sciences Ila-Orangun

Rationale: The escalating volume of solid waste generated globally poses significant environmental and public health challenges, particularly in developing countries like Nigeria. Effective solid waste management planning relies on the quantification and characterization of waste streams. However, in Nigerian universities, critical processes such as waste collection, transportation, characterization, and disposal remain significantly under-investigated and poorly implemented, limiting evidence-based policy development. Objectives: This study assessed the quantity, composition, spatial distribution, temporal variation, and resource recovery potential of solid waste at the Federal University of Health Sciences, Ila-Orangun (FUHSI), aiming to propose actionable recommendations for sustainable waste management aligned with circular economy principles. Methods: A six-month prospective waste segregation and collection study was conducted across eight strategic locations on campus, including the Faculty of Allied Health Sciences (FAHS), Senate Building (SB), Faculty of Science (FS), Former Administrative Building (FAB), Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences (FBM), Faculty of Health Sciences (FHS), Nursing Science (NS), and Library and ICT complex (LI). Waste was segregated at source, transported to the mini–Material Recovery Facility (m-MRF), and measured weekly. Statistical analyses, including one-way ANOVA, were employed to examine spatial variations in waste composition. Results: Over the monitoring period, a cumulative 1,846.4 kg of waste was recorded, with an overall mean of 9.62 kg per week per collection point. FAHS contributed the largest share (17.87%; average 13.75 kg/week), followed by SB (12.65%) and FS (12.55%). Temporal analysis revealed a gradual decline from 513.3 kg in Week 1 to 413.6 kg in Week 4, suggesting operational intensity patterns. Waste composition analysis demonstrated food waste as the dominant fraction (~600 kg; 32.7%), substantially exceeding plastics (~320 kg; 17.3%) and papers (~310 kg; 16.8%). Intermediate quantities were observed for carton/cardboard (~270 kg) and polythene nylons (~240 kg), with smaller proportions for metals/cans (~50 kg), styrofoam (~40 kg), and glass bottles (