PRODUCTION OF INTERIOR DECORATIVE ITEMS FROM RECYCLED TEXTILE MATERIALS FOR SUBSTAINABLE WASTE MANAGEMENT IN NIGERIA

Abstract

Waste generation in Nigeria is on the increase due to the rise in population and consumption of materials. Households store their waste primarily in plastic bags, sacks, and buckets. Contracted waste collectors collect mixed waste and transport it directly to dump site/landfills. Waste scavengers recover valuable materials while the remaining waste is burnt at these sites. Waste is seen as valuable resource to increase the economic benefits from recycling and diversion. Materials and products are kept in use as long as possible by extending the life span, recycled back into the economy through recycling, refurbishing or re-purposing and by moving away from ownership of product to services. Waste management includes the processes and actions required to manage waste from its inception to its final disposal. This paper would look into different types of waste, waste management and how waste is turned into useful decorative materials in the household. It will also discuss skills used on the available textile waste for producing different decorative items. The paper was summarized, concluded and recommendations were made. One of the recommendations is that, Nigerian government should have political will to implement strategies on waste management; households should be committed to minimize the use of materials that generate much waste and be able to reuse some of their waste materials like plastic containers and textile materials.