Waste Disposal Problems and Management in Ughelli, Nigeria

Sunday I. Efe

Department of Geography and Regional Planning, Delta State University, Abraka, Nigeria.

DOI: 10.4236/jep.2013.44A002                

Abstract

The study examined the problem of waste disposal and management in Ughelli. A field survey was undertaken to determine the types, volume, effects and methods of managing solid waste in the Ughelli. The volume of waste was measured at dumpsites in the four existing quarters and from household bins. Appropriate waste characterization methods were employed in classifying the waste into various components on weekly basis. Eighty and twenty questionnaires were administered to households’ heads and industries respectively and summarized with descriptive statistics. The results revealed an increase in the volume of solid waste generated over the years with 15,540 Kg mean annual volume of solid waste generated in Ughelli at dumpsites, and 1104.7 Kg mean volume of solid waste generated per households that never arrives at dumpsites. The composition of solid waste generated and disposed in Ughelli were predominantly food items, bottles/cans and plastics, paper/carton and nylon of sachet water, which were mostly found in market places. The most widely adopted method of waste disposal is open dumping, land filling, dig and bury. It is therefore recommended that government should adopt an appropriate waste collection and disposal agency and also more government approved dumpsites should be established in the area.

Keywords

Waste; Disposal; Management; Ughelli

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

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