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AN ASSESSMENT OF SOLID WASTE DISPOSAL PRACTICES IN RESIDENTIAL BUILDINGS

ABSTRACT

This research was conducted on “Assessment of Solid Waste Disposal Practices in Majidadi ‘B’ ward in the Bauchi metropolis” aimed at assessing the nature and the methods used by the users of the area, which was first carried out through survey with the use of structured questionnaires to some persons chosen from the study area. The total population for the study is 200 residents in Majidadi ‘B’ ward in the Bauchi metropolis. The researcher used questionnaires as the instrument for the data collection. Descriptive Survey research design was adopted for this study. A total of 133 respondents made civil servants, youths, married men and married women were used for the study. The data collected were presented in tables and analyzed using simple percentages and frequencies.

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1      Background of the study

Solid waste management has become a global problem especially in developing countries of the world. One of the major factors that directly contribute to solid waste generation is urbanization and population growth. Solid wastes could be defined as non-liquid and nongaseous products of human activities, regarded as being useless (Babayemi and Dauda, 2009). It could take the forms of refuse, garbage and sludge (Leton and Omotosho, 2004). In developing countries such as Nigeria, open dumping of solid wastes into wetlands, watercourses, drains and burrow pit is a prevalent form of disposal. This practice has sometimes resulted in the littering of the surroundings, creates eyesore and odour nuisance (Ihuoma, 2012).

Sangodoyin (1993) stated that open dumping of wastes serves as breeding place for flies, insects and rats. The proliferation of flies, insects and rats in the vicinity of a refuse dumpsite is due to the presence of putrescible components. The flies are capable of transmitting diseases through contact with food and water such as dysentery and diarrhea. The unsanitary mode of disposal of wastes, such as defecation in streams and the dumping of refuse in pits, rivers and drainage channels could be expected to affect surface and groundwater quality (Sangodoyin, 1991). Hence, the management and control of wastes at all stages of production, collection, transportation, treatment and ultimate disposal is a relatively social imperative (Salami et al, 2011).

Afon (2007) observed that, little documentation of the quantity and composition of wastes generated in different areas of African cities, are limiting the capacity to develop effective waste management systems. Kabir et al, 2003 narrated that waste generation occurs in virtually all human activities and that its management in society has been a challenge for as long as people have gathered together in sufficient numbers. Proper management of solid waste is critical to the health and well-being of urban residents (WorldBank, 2003). Bauchi metropolis, like most cities in the developing world several tons of municipal solid waste is left uncollected on the streets each day, clogging drains, creating feeding ground for pests that spread diseases and creating myriad of related health and infrastructural problems. A substantial part of the urban residents in the old city have very little or no access to solid waste collection services. This is due to lack of proper land use planning which resulted in the creation of informal settlement with narrow streets that make it difficult for collection trucks to reach many areas. Nijiribeako lamented that the sheer magnitude of the solid waste problem in Nigeria is hard to comprehend. There are not enough public waste receptacles, and solid waste dumps are located in the side of the highway.