Assessment of Biowaste for Bioenergy and Adoption Strategies in the Federal Capital Territory, Nigeria

Environmental pollution caused by the indiscriminate disposal of biowaste and kitchen residue is a major issue in major cities in developing countries, making the population vulnerable and susceptible to viruses and bacteria-caused diseases. This study investigates the potential of biowaste as a resource for bioenergy development in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). A quantitative approach was employed, using 99 completed questionnaires from artisans and small- and medium-sized enterprises, including food vendors, grocers, and vegetable vendors in the FCT. The research tool evaluated the types and amounts of biowaste generated from agricultural residues, food waste, and organic matter from their businesses. The questionnaires also collected information on socioeconomic characteristics, bioenergy adoption strategies, and waste management techniques. Findings revealed that (i) most enterprises are operated by young adults aged between 31 and 41 years; (ii) respondents mostly hold university degrees or Higher National Diplomas, with an average daily customer count of 20; (iii) the enterprises mainly produce food waste (both solid and liquid), averaging 8 kg daily; (iv) they do not use reliable waste management practices such as sorting; (v) they spend approximately 15,000 Naira weekly on cooking fuel, primarily Liquefied Petroleum Gas; and (vi) financial constraints are a significant barrier to adopting biogas as a clean energy source. Additionally, statistical tests showed that the type of waste (animal and plant-based or both) and the frequency of waste generation are strongly significant factors in bioenergy adoption. The study concludes that biowaste is frequently generated among small- to medium-sized food vendors, offering substantial opportunities for bio-entrepreneurs in the FCT. the Nigerian waste disposal system does not prioritize waste sorting at the point of disposal, which is very important for achieving a sustainable biowaste for bioenergy conversion. There is a need to ensure a smart biowaste management approach (through the use of AI to sort waste), which could be achieved by providing different waste bins that are labelled and identify different waste such as plant and animal biowaste, plastic waste, etc. Commercialize waste generated by providing a readily available market for biowaste that could otherwise be used to generate bioenergy, as most vendors belong to the youthful group and have a sufficiently educational background, the government and Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) should intensify advocacy and training on the importance and need for bioenergy.