SOLID WASTE MANANGEMENT BY COOLEST CHRIS PART 1

CHAPTER ONE

1.0 INTRODUCTION

1.1 Background of Study

Solid waste management is the collection, transportation, processing, recycling or disposal and monitoring of waste materials while solid wastes are all the wastes that arise from human and animal activates that are solid and which are unwanted. There is hardly any place in one world we are living in today where hazardous and non-hazardoussubstance (wastes) is not generated every day. And most of the wastes are not being properly handled, thereby posing grave danger to everyday life.United Nations (Glossary of environmental statistics 1997).

Goal 7 of the 8 Millennium Development Goals is to ‘ensure environmental sustainability’ (UNESCO, 2011). A very important issue that is crucial in realizing this goal is that of the need to develop and adopt effective strategies for solid waste management (SWM) and more especially in densely populated urban areas. The main purpose of SWM is to provide hygienic, efficient and economic collection, transportation, treatment and/or disposal of solid wastes, without polluting the atmosphere, soil or water resources. The environmental and public health risks that arise due to inadequate waste disposal have been well documented:  surface and groundwater are contaminated by leachate; the soil by direct waste contact or leachate; the air by burning of waste; the spread of diseases by different vectors such as birds, insects and rodents; and the uncontrolled release of methane from anaerobic waste decomposition (Schertenleib and Meyer, 1992).

Recent high levels of economic growth and consumption have led to increasing pressures on the environment in ugbowo. On closer observation it would be observed that many areas in the town are now covered with refuse dumps. This current situation is sharply in contrast to what the town used to be many years back when many trees blossomed and the streets were a beauty to behold. The huge waste that collects almost in every street corner is a clear indication that there is a lack of proper and efficient SWM (Gumbo 1996).

            Waste is defined asany unwanted materials intentionally thrown away by the owner for disposal .however ,certain wastes may eventually become resources valuable to others once they are removed from the streams of waste .solid waste streams should be characterized by their sources ,types of waste produced ,as well as generation rate and composition. Knowledge of the sources of waste and types in an area is required in order to design and operate appropriate solid management systems (Gumbo, 1996; Famuyigbo, 1998)

Waste is inseparable from life because as man is alive, hestores, uses and disposes off materials and the complexities of waste and the complexities of waste which modern civilization produces are directly related to the lying standards, socio-economic and cultural attributes of that particular environment (Hoornweg, 1999)

Wastes can be classified in terms of; solid, liquid or gaseous state. There are eight major classifications of solid waste generation; residential, industrial, commercial, institutional, constructional, anddemolition, municipal services, process and agriculture (Hoornweg, 1999).

Edo state solid wastes management policy is designated to support policy guidelines or material environmental policy. The policy determines appears to be how to contain the adverse environmental impact through proper implementation (Nwaka, 2005).

In most urban centers in Nigeria ,wastes are disposed of by dumping in open areas ,which produces health and pollution problems by encouraging the growth of organisms that can transmit diseases to peoples lying around the vicinity .sometimes in order to reduce the volume of wastes and conserve spaces ,these wastes or refuse in open dumps are burnt which in turn produces a form of air pollution .As countries become richer and more urbanized ,their waste composition changes(Freeman 111,1979 and Lietman,1995)

For instance, Bubonic plague in Europe during 14^th century was to mountain garbage in one cities which resulted to 30% increase in the population of water indiscriminate solid waste disposal is actually a menace and disgrace to one nation where heaps or refuse litter most parts of the city. Solid wastes are as old as human role, man has been systematically polluting his environment since the beginning of industrial revolution, with increasing industrialization and productivity and these coupled with the attendant rise in population grown make the population problem more complex.Solid waste management has become pertinent problem facing Nigeria todays.

In Nigeria, about 25 million metric tonnes of solid wastes are generated yearly (ogwueleka, 2009).Non industrialized societies may have more organic waste than those generated by industrializedcities. If this is the case composting or anaerobic digestion may be more suitable for organic waste management (Tay et.al, 2004).

 Ugbowo is used as a case study due to the fact that solid waste is also a menace to the area. Solid waste obviously has negative impact on the economy. This will be discussed and documented elaborately.

1.2 Statement of Problem

Man is behind every development endeavor; many people feed that solid wastes management is a simple affair-simply putting waste into a truck and offloading at a dumpsite but with ones in place we still have so many drains and streets uttered with dumps. Manydiseases like dysentery, cholera and gastro-enteritis have been observed and this is obviously caused due to improper collection and wastes drinking water.

 Some engineers feel that any engineer without adequate training can manage solid waste but that is hardly the ease as solid waste management involves more of managing a large labor force and working synergistically with one workers and the public. Many diseases like cholera and gastro-enteritis have been reported due to lack of proper collection and unsafe drinking water (Marudachalam, V.M 1990).

The blocking of drainage systems with garbage is also a major problem raced in Uselu market which is majorly caused by polythene bags and domestic garbage which are unknown into one drainage systems especially when it rains.

1.3 Aimand Objectives

The aims of this study is to know thecurrent condition of solidwaste management in Ugbowo. The specific objectives are to:

i. Capture and review the problems and difficulties associated with solid waste management in Benin city using Uselu market as a case study with a view of not just identifying these inherent problems but also of offer easy and feasible solutions that will ultimately lead to an effective and efficient or technique that will be utmostly environmentally friendly creating the desired awareness amongst the citizenly. Such a solid waste management practice should involve the followings:Planning design, financing, construction and utilization of facilities in the functions of collection, storage, transportation, processing and disposal of any form of solid waste in the area in record time to prevent the spread of unwanted diseases.

1.4 Scope of the study

This study covers Ugbowo in Ovia north L.G.A of Benin City because it is a typical municipal location in the state. And municipal means a town or city or its local government. It will also involve accessing the pollution of land surface by solid waste in Ugbowo and how these waste regenerated or produced by one resident of the area can effectively economically be collected ,treated ,transported and properly disposed of

1.5 Justification of Study

About 87% of Nigerians practice disposal  methods adjudged as insanitary ,which has not only led to the breeding of rodents,mosquitoes,bacteria and other pests of public health importance with their associated diseaseas,but has also constituted visual repulsion and odour nuisance(FMEN,2005).

Markets, motor park, residential areas,abbatoirs,industries,offices,streets etc. used by millions of Benin city dwellers are seldom provided with waste collection and disposal facilities. Men, women and children still dispose these wastes indiscriminately into public drains, along the streets, nearby bushes and rivers, leading to blocked drains, polluted environment and water bodies.

The improper handling and disposal of medical wastes is a major threat to refuse collectors and scavengers because they can be exposed to infections such as tetanus, EVD (Ebola virus disease), hiv/aids, hepatitis etc. which in turn undermines productivity and reduces G.D.P.

Recovered materials can be recycled and sold. By products from incineration and composting can be used to generate energy and produce fertilizer respectively.

The relevance of this study is that there will be better healthy living conditions in the communities involved through more proper orientation about the hazards of improper disposal of solid wastes, and by products from incineration and composting can be used to create energy and produce fertilizers.

The significance and relevance of this study is to properly handle and manage all the solid wastes generated in Ugbowo.