problems and prospects of waste disposal in port
TRANSCRIPT
TABLE OF CONTENTS
CERTIFICATION…………………………………………………….…i
DEDICATION…………………………………………………………..ii
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT……………………………………….……..iii
ABSTRACT…………………………………………………………….iv
TABLE OF CONTENTS……………………………………………….v
LIST OF TABLES…………………………………………………….vi
CHAPTER ONE
1.1 INTRODUCTION
1.2 BACKGROUND OF STUDY ……………………….….……..…1
1.3 HISTORICAL BACKGROUND OF STUDY AREA…..… 11
1.4 STATEMENT OF RESEARCH PROBLEM…………………..…3
1.5 SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY……………………..…..…….6
1.6 OBJECTIVE OF THE STUDY……………………………………7
1.7 HYPOTHESES……………………………………………………7
1.8 DEFINITION OF TERMS………………………………………..
CHAPTER TWO
2.1 THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK
2.1.1 POPULATION, RESOURCE, POLLUTION (P.R.P) MODEL.
2.1.2 CONCEPT OF SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
2.2 LITERATURE REVIEW
2.2.1 CONCEPT OF SOLID WASTE
2.2.2 SOURCES OF WASTE
2.2.3 WASTE MANAGEMENT METHODS
2.2.4 FACTORS AFFECTING SOLID WASTE GENERATION
2.2.5 PROBLEMS OF WASTE DISPOSAL
2.2.6 HIERARCHY OF WASTE MANAGEMENT OPTIONS
2.2.7 PROSPECT OF OUR ENVIRONMENT
CHAPTER THREE
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
3.1 TYPE OF DATA…………………………………………………37
3.2 SOURCE OF DATA……………………………………………. .37
3.3 METHOD OF DATA COLLECTION…………………………...38
3.4 METHOD OF DATA ANALYSIS………………………………39
3.5 POPULATION OF THE STUDY………………………………..41
3.6 SAMPLING TECHNIQUES………………………………….....41
CHAPTER FOUR:
DATA PRESENTATION AND DISCUSSION OF FINDINGS
4.1 DATA PRESENTATION AND ANALYSIS…………………...43
4.2 HYPOTHESIS……………………………….…………………..59
4.3 DECISION RULE…………………………...…………………...62
4.4 DISCUSSION OF FINDING…………………...………………..64
CHAPTER FIVE
SUMMARY AND RECOMMENDATION
5.1 SUMMARY…………………………..………………..………...66
5.2 RECOMMENDATION……………………………………….....67
5.3 CONCLUSION……………………………………..……………69
REFERENCES
PLATES
APPENDIXES
LIST OF TABLES
Table 1.1: population growth of port-Harcourt city (1921-20008).
Table 4.1: Category of solid waste generated in the study area.
Table 4.2: People who have waste dump (silo bin )
Table 4.3: Size of waste collected in streets of the study area.
Table 4.4: How Often Waste is Disposed from their homes daily.
Table 4.5: Number of waste bins found in that location
Table 4.6: Approximate Dumping of Waste in the Waste Bins
Table 4.7: Factors Leading to Inappropriate Disposal of Waste
Table 4.8: Amount of Money Spent on Waste Evacuation
Table 4.9: Health Problems as a Result of Indiscriminate Waste
Dump
Table 4.10: Number of Times Health Problems is being treated.
Table 4.11: Amount of Money Spent on Medical Bills When Treating
Health Problems.
Table 4.12: Recommendations to Improve Waste Management.
PLATES
Plate 1: indiscriminate waste disposal in a drainage channel in DiobuPlate 2: Over flow of waste bin in Borikiri
ABSTRACT
This research work was carried out on the problems and prospects of waste
disposal in port-Harcourt metropolis, aimed at providing solution to problems
of solid waste disposal in port-Harcourt metropolis. The major objectives of the
study are; to determine the quality of waste generated in the study area, to
assess the impact of indiscriminate waste dump on the socio-economic lives
of the respondents, to suggest possible management methods to the
observed problem. The data for this study was collected through primary and
secondary sources. The primary data source includes; field work,
questionnaire, and personal observation. Whereas, the secondary data source
include textbooks, research project, formal articles and electronic media. The
data obtained in the field with the aid of questionnaire administration on
problems and prospects of waste disposal in port-Harcourt metropolis was
subjected to analysis and presentation. This study discovered that ignorance,
inadequate waste management facility, along with other factors such as
attitudes of residents dumping waste indiscriminately (into gutters, roadsides)
and in nearby bushes were key factors hindering progress towards efficient
waste management in port-Harcourt metropolis. However, environmental
education/awareness was highly recommended by the people of Port-
Harcourt metropolis as a prospective way of reducing the problems of waste
disposal/management in their vicinity.
CHAPTER ONE
1.1 INTRODUCTION
Solid waste disposal and management have remained an
intractable environmental sanitation problem in Port Harcourt
Municipality and in Nigeria at large. This problem has manifested
in the form of piles of indiscriminately disposed heaps of
uncovered waste and illegal dumpsites along major roads and at
street corners in cities and urban areas. The management of
municipal solid waste involves (a) development of an insight into
the impact of waste generation collection, transportation and
disposal methods adopted by a society on the environment and (b)
adoption of new methods to reduce this impact. This problem is
compounded by the rapid urbanization and population growth
which has led to the generation of enormous quantities of solid
waste which are often discarded by open dumping. Rushbroke
describes open dumping of Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) as a
primitive stage of waste disposal.
The study area, Port Harcourt City in 1986 enacted the Rivers
State Environment Sanitation Edict as a bold step to control solid
waste generation. The Rivers State Government spent millions of
Nigeria to purchase refuse waste bin and small silo bin as well as
closed top compacting trucks.
The lack of effective waste management strategy is a potential
threat to achieving sustainable development in Port Harcourt
Municipality. Studies that would bring about strategies to manage
these wastes are urgently needed.
The study are in this year, 2003, has noticed a near absence of all
the Silo and closed top compacting trucks used in 1986. Open top
truck is mainly used nowadays for the transportation of solid waste
in the study area. This vehicle used for transportation of solid
waste has been criticized because of its environment
unfriendliness and crude work, processes, procedure and
methods.
1.2 BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY
One of the greatest environmental problems that pose a grave
challenge to the residents of port-Harcourt is waste disposal.
Today, solid waste disposal constitutes a major urban
environmental paralysis; a clog in the wheel of progress in terms of
urban environmental purity and sanitation (Slue, 2009).
The deterioration of the urban environment in terms of
irresponsibly dumped and accumulated solid wastes is most
apparent in our urban lives and blighted environments have often
been cited and voted as contributing causes of the Nigerian urban
decay (Asuquo 1979). In Port Harcourt municipality, waste
problem has gained notoriety because of its visibility and general
degradation of the environment. In Borikiri area of Port Harcourt, it
is common site to find mounds of waste in many places, besides
those wastes that are scattered in gutters, street corners, and road
sides.
The adverse effects create by poor solid waste management
cannot be comprehended fully in thus context. Since man must
progress, therefore science and technology, continues to develop
man’s innovations to manufacture new products to satisfy his
numerous needs. The heaps of refuse, dirt and filth a case a major
sight to behold in the study are mainly due to the change in the
method of transportation of solid waste from closed to compacting
truck to open top truck (tipper), the attitude of government towards
enforcing the Legislative provisions of section 35 of the Rivers
State Environmental Sanitation Edict of controlling industrial and
domestic solid waste disposal. This has given the general public
who is quite ignorant of the danger that may result from poor solid
waste management a leeway of disposing their waste in a manner
that best suite them.
To overcome these problems therefore brings the need to
undertake in this study to carry out a survey of the types of
technology, its effect and efficiency on solid waste management in
Port Harcourt City.
1.3 HISTORICAL BACKGROUND OF STUDY AREA
Port Harcourt is one of the 23 local Governments Areas and the
capital city of Rivers State, Nigeria. Longitude 7 50’E 8 00’E and
latitude 4 45’00 n, 4 75’N It lies along the Bonny River which is
located in Niger Delta and it is situated at the Southern tip of
Nigeria, a littoral state covering 10,379sq kilometers and bordering
the Atlantic Occasion. Port Harcourt is one of the word’s richest
wetlands.
The population of port-Harcourt city (within its municipal
boundaries) has risen from 7,000 residents in 1921, to more than
800,000 in 2006 (census, 2006). The population growth rate is
estimated at 3.05% in 1996. The population of port-Harcourt is
estimated at 1,620,214 (2007) with the port-Harcourt urban area at
2.7 million in population. The current population of port-Harcourt,
Nigeria is 1148665 according to the Geonames geographical
database.
Population Growth Of Port-Harcourt City (1921-2008)
YEAR POPULATION PERCENTAGE (%)
1921 7185 0.0
1931 15020 10.9
1953 71634 17.1
1963 179563 15.1
1973 213443 1.9
1991 703416 121.8
2006 835332 1.3
Source: National Population Commission (2006), Izeogu (1989).
The city is one of the industrial cities of Nigeria reputed to be treasure
base of the Nation having numerous environmental activities. Pollutants
such as solid waste, liquid waste or effluent are causing environmental
degradation.
The municipalities in the study are comprises of:
Diobu
Township
Borikiri
Rumuola
Trans Amadi industrial layout
Rumueme
Rumuokrushi
1.4 STATEMENT OF RESEARCH PROBLEM
It is a well established fact that man’s survival on planet earth
absolutely depends on the environment. Therefore, unhealthy
environment leads to unhealthy human existence. According to
NEST (1991) one of the problems facing Nigerian Urban centers is
the issue of waste management. In recent times, there has been a
phenomenal increase in the volume of solid waste generation daily
(over 3,000 tonnes of solid waste) in the country, due largely to the
increasing rate of population, urbanization, industrialization and
general economic growth. (www.ceidenuniv.academia.edu).
In many cities including Port Harcourt, the volume of solid waste
generated (A total of 207.3 tonnes, 1.45kg of waste per capita
daily), has overwhelmed the urban administrators capacity to plan
for their collection and disposal. Thus, it is very common to find
waste being littered on streets, scattered in gutters and roadsides.
This practice has resulted in flooding of the streets and health
related issue as the refuse is left to decay without being
evacuated. The provision of waste disposal bin by the Port-
Harcourt urban development Authority (PUDA) is really inadequate
and the removal of waste from the bin is ineffective because of
lack of sufficient evacuation trucks and man-power.
People’s attitude towards the environment is also of concern.
People must be oriented to know the effects of indiscriminate
disposal of waste. The need for people to properly dispose their
waste and always try to keep their environments clean. This is why
Odum (1975) asserted that in order to effectively and efficiently
handle waste management operations, every citizen should be
made to understand that basic ecological principles must be
applied if man is to achieve and maintain a symbiotic relationship
with nature. A total of 207.3 tonnes of solid waste was generated
in Port Harcourt metropolis in 2010
(www.emeraldinsight.com/journals). Giving a per capita annual
waste generation rate of 0.53 tonnes equivalent to waste generator
rate of 1.45kg of waste per capita daily. Cartons accounted for
16.1 percent paper and food remnant had 14.4 percent and 26.6
percentage of total waste (Ogbonna et.al 2011).
Other forms of waste such as industrial and agricultural waste
products data are hard to come by. Automobile effluent is a big
worry in the metropolis because of the vehicles are not
environmentally friendly as they emit poisonous gases such as
carbon monoxide, sulphur, nitrate, etc. which are detrimental to
human health.
Because of lack of appropriate data management, accurate figure
of persons who have suffered from health issues that can be
traced to improper waste disposal cannot be obtained from
government Hospitals in the area. But issues such as malaria,
cholera, typhoid, diarrhoea cannot be disassociated with
decomposed waste matter. Waste could be seen around different
spots in the metropolis. The 2011 budget by the Rivers State
Government allocated 2.9 billion naira to the ministry of
environment. (www.riverstate.gov.ng). which is directly responsible
for supervising the Rivers State Environmental Agency which is
vested with the responsibility of waste management.
1.5 SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY
The purpose of this analysis of solid waste disposal is to study and
reveal the negative impacts of the problems of waste disposal in
Port- Harcourt municipality, and to suggest lasting and sustainable
solutions to the problems by making recommendations that will
help control the situation if adhered to. This study will be important
to the government to assist in the tackling of waste problems in the
study area, and also useful to upcoming researcher as it will serve
as a source for future study.
Finally, this study would bring ultimate benefit to improve the
morals of citizens for effective participation in environmental
policies and programmes. This is because when the morale of
people is improved, it is equally expected that their participation in
such environmental activities is improved tremendously, reflecting
in their overall environmental consciousness
1.6 OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY
The major aim of this study is to provide a scientific assessment of
Port Harcourt City dumpsite, using an Integrated Risk Based
Approach (IRBA) developed by Kurian; et. al. that would enable a
decision to be taken on the management of the site.
In order to achieve this aim, the following specific objectives would
be considered;
1. To determine the quantity of waste generated in the study
area.
2. To asses the attitude of people towards waste management.
3. To assess the impact of indiscriminate waste dump on the
socio- economic lives respondents.
4. To find out past and present measures (if any) to check mate
the menace of indiscriminate waste dump in Port-Harcourt
metropolis.
5. To suggest possible methods to the observed problems.
1.7 HYPOTHESES
In accordance with the research objectives, the following
hypotheses are formulated for testing in this study;
(1)
Ho: There is no significant relationship between the volume of
waste generated and the health condition of the
respondents.
Hi: There is a significant relationship between the volume of
waste generated and the health condition of the
respondents.
(2)
Ho: There is no significant relationship between inadequate
waste bins (silo bin) and indiscriminate disposal of waste.
Hi: There is a significant relationship between inadequate waste
bins (silo bin) and indiscriminate disposal of waste.
1.8 DEFINITION OF TERMS
Waste: Waste may be defined as any substance be it solid, liquid
or gaseous, that remains a residue or an incidental by- product of
the processing of the substance and for which no use can be
found by the organism or system that produces it (Allaby, 1998). In
other words, wastes are substances or objects discarded as
worthless or unwanted, defective and of no further value to the
user and should be disposed (Ekpoh, 2009).
Waste is an unavoidable consequence of the need for survival. In
order to live, we eat, drink and provide other necessities of life. In
the process of trying to satisfy these needs, we create waste. It is
a fact that the amount of waste generated by individual has
relationships with per capital consumption.
Solid waste: This is one of the classes of waste that is solid in
nature and characteristic e.g. garbage refuse and so on. They
cannot appear in solution with water unless when grinded or burnt
to ashes.
Analysis: The detail study or examination of something in order to
understand more about it.
Management: Management is the act of combing human and
material resources to achieve a set objectives or goal. It involves
co-ordinating, organizing, directing, and other things put together
in actualizing a set goal.
Solid waste management: Solid waste management is the
process of collecting, storing, treatment and disposal of solid
wastes in such a way that they are harmless to humans, plants,
animals, the ecology and the environment generally. An activity
focused on waste generation prevention, on waste handling and
on management of the place where waste is permanently
deposited. The scope of solid waste management includes all
administrative, financial, legal, planning and engineering of solid
waste.
The activities associated with the management of municipal solid
wastes from the point of generation to final disposal can be
grouped into the six functional elements: (a)Waste generation; (b)
waste handling and sorting, storage, and processing at the source
(c) collection; (d) sorting, processing and transformation; (e)
transfer and transport and (f) disposal.
Waste Generation: Waste generation encompasses activities in
which materials are identified as no longer being of value (in their
present form) and either thrown away or gathered together for
disposal. Waste generation is, at present, an activity that is not
very controllable. In the future, however, more control is likely to be
exercised over the generation of wastes. Reduction of waste at
source, although not controlled by solid waste managers, is now
included in system evaluations as a method of limiting the quantity
of waste generated.
Waste Handling, Sorting, Storage, and Processing at the
source: The second of the six functional elements in the solid
waste management system is waste handling, sorting, storage and
processing at the source. Waste handling and sorting involves the
activities associated with management of wastes until they are
placed in storage containers for collection. Handling also
encompasses the movement of loaded containers to the point of
collection. Sorting of waste components is an important step in the
handling and storage of solid waste at the source. For reuse and
recycling is at the source of generation.
The cost of providing storage for solid wastes at the source is
normally borne by the household in the case of individuals, or by
the management of commercial and industrial properties.
Processing at the source involves activities such as backyard
waste composting.
Collection: The functional element of collection, includes not only
the gathering of solid wastes and recyclable materials, but also the
transport of these materials, after collection, to the location where
the collection vehicle is emptied. This location may be a materials
processing facility, a transfer station, or a landfill disposal site.
Sorting, Processing and Transformation of Solid Waste: The
sorting processing and transformation of solid waste materials is
the fourth of the functional elements. The recovery of sorted
materials, processing of solid waste and transformation of solid
waste that occurs primarily in locations away from the source of
waste generation are encompassed by this functional element.
Sorting of commingled (mixed) wastes usually occurs at a
materials recovery facility, transfer stations, combustion facilities,
and disposal sites. Sorting often includes the separation of bulky
items, separation of waste components by size using screens,
manual separation of waste components, and separation of ferrous
and non-ferrous metals. Waste processing is undertaken to
recover conversion products and energy. The organic fraction of
Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) can be transformed by a variety of
biological and thermal processes. The most commonly used
biological transformation process is aerobic composting. The most
commonly used thermal transformation process is incineration.
Waste transformation is undertaken to reduce the volume, weight,
size or toxicity of waste without resource recovery. Transformation
may be done by a variety of mechanical (i.e shredding), thermal
(e.g. incineration without energy recovery) or chemical (e.g.
encapsulation) techniques.
Transfer and Transport: The functional element of transfer and
transport involves two steps: (i) the transfer of wastes from the
smaller collection vehicle to the larger transport equipment and
(ii) the subsequent transport of the wastes, usually over long
distances, to a processing or disposal site. The transfer usually
takes place at a transfer station.
Disposal: The final functional element in the solid waste
management system is disposal. Today, the disposal of wastes by
land filling or uncontrolled dumping is the ultimate fate of all solid
wastes, whether they are residential wastes collected and
transported directly to a landfill site, residual materials from
Materials Recovery Facilities (MRFs), residue from the combustion
of solid waste, rejects of composting, or other substances from
various solid waste – processing facilities. A municipal solid waste
landfill plant is an engineered facility used for disposing of solid
wastes on land or within the earth’s mantle without crating
nuisance or hazard to public health or safety, such as breeding of
rodents and insects and contamination of groundwater.
CHAPTER TWO
THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK AND LITERATURE REVIEW
2.1 THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK
2.1.1 POPULATION, RESOURCE, POLLUTION (P.R.P) MODEL.
POPULATION
↓
RESOURCE
↓
POPULATION
Fig.1 Diagram of the p.r.p model
In the study of waste management, there are several models, and
conceptual postulates. This research work shall focus on just one
among these conceptual postulates such as the P.R.P (population,
research, pollution) model. The idea of waste generation and
problems posed by this waste in our cities is not for fetched from
population explosion, resource demand and pollution. In an
attempt to study waste problem, the P.R.P model was formulated
which slows the relationship between population, resource and
pollution .this model connects resource use with the environment
population in terms of waste generated. As more people move to
an urban area, either from birth or migration, population increases
leading to high demand of resource to stay alive, and as such ,a
negative feedback is reached with increase in the number of waste
generation. the P.R.P mode says that human population acquires
and uses resources from the environment and that these activities
have negative impact on the environment, attiring the biotic and
biotic condition.
2.1.2 CONCEPT OF SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
As defined by the Bruntland commission in its 1987 report “our
common future” as a process of meeting the need of the present
generation likewise not jeopardizing the needs of the future
generation (world development report 1992) the word was first
used in the world conservation strategy (IUCN1980). It stressed
sustainability in ecological terms and was for less concerned with
economic development.
NEST(1992) further elaborated that ,it is a process in which the
exploitation of resources, direction of investment, the orientation of
technological development, the development of waste and
institution change are all in harmony and enhances both current
and future potentials to meet human need and aspiration. This
concept however proved difficult for many to operate, on the
approximate point on where to draw in certain between resource
use and resources protection. In essence, the vision of sustainable
development as set out in the Bruntland report is for policies which
recognize the need for economic growth without base.
It is argued that sustainable development in terms of waste
management at a global level could only be achieved through
major changes in the ways which our urban centres are managed.
Man rice coinage of term “eco development at the united nations
conference on the environment may prove lucid, as starting point
towards operationalizing this concept (Bisong, 1994).
The concept as elaborated by mites (1983) is set at capturing the
basic characteristic of a new philosophy towards societal
development. He advocates that development should be based on
the recognition of the importance of the linkage between the
objective of development audits various contexts. For instance, the
urban center and the rule of waste generated are taken into
consideration. Miles rested on the assumption that the
development of one person, group, country or whatever to its own
good. That development must be sustainable either from within or
from its development environment. Thus, any damage done to an
environment at any given time is acceptable only if there is both
knowledge of how the capacities of the environment will be
restored and intention to restore them. This concept highlighted
above linked waste disposal and sustainable management of
those wastes in our urban centre which focuses primarily on the
correction or cure of waste problems in urban centres.
This is achieved through proper treatment and disposal of waste to
help mitigate the effect of creating environment al unsound
situation, rather than prevention with the above means. There is a
compelling need for resource recovery because of the high cost of
raw materials to a new direction which is waste prevention,
minimization, or avoidance which is achievable by changing the
present waste disposal method, so as to ensure a sustainable
management of waste generated by our urban centre’s.
2.2 LITERATURE REVIEW
To show that this research work is not isolated, a number of
literatures are reviewed. Different contributions gathered from
different authors are presented below for easy
reference.
2.2.1 CONCEPT OF SOLID WASTE
Waste is anything that has lost its value, and the by-product of the
processed product. According to Allaby (1988) waste is any
substance, be it solid, liquid, or gaseous, that remains as residue
or an incidental by- product of a substance, and for which no other
use can be found by the organism or system that produced it.
Gilpin (1976) also describe it as a material of solid or semi-solid
character, which the processor no longer consider sufficient to
retain. Odoche (1994) and Wagner (1995) said, solid wastes are
materials which are generated as a result of normal operation over
which we have control in term of their production disposal or
discharge. He asserted that one waste here may become a
feedback or raw material elsewhere. This is why there have been
christened scavengers.
Sule (2001) asserted that most uncontrolled and poorly managed
waste are found in fast growing capital cities of the world
especially in developing countries where population is always on
the increase. He also stated that the problems of the solid waste is
not familiar but assume global gargantuan dimensions. In recent
years leading to environmental degradation pollution and
imbalance, epidemics and diseases, decline in urban quality and
fiscal spending on solid waste generation and management.
However, many authorities in the field of solid waste have shown
that solid waste generation problem and management is not only a
social behaviors, but also socio-economic and cultural factors
associated with them. These include population growth,
urbanization, technological advancement and improvement in the
standard of living. Sule (2001) in an empirical study carried out in
Calabar, pointed out that during the past two decades in Nigeria,
urban centre have continued to grow in terms of population and to
expand in size. Despite this growth, there has been no effect until
recently to control and manage the cities. He also observed that
increase in population combined with impact of good salary review
has led to rising level of consumption. He further stated that the
consequences is increased in degradation in the generation of
waste and has resulted in degradation in the city land scape and
unhealthy living condition.
Obot, AnimaShaun and Fayose (2002), observed that the improper
disposal of refuse and waste constitute serious environmental
health problems to residents within the vicinity. The phenomenon
can escalate the outbreak of different kinds of epidemics.
According to Aina (1995), the polluted ground water can affect
food chain, health and human environment. She stressed that both
women and children are victims of pollution and that over 40,000
children die from disease and other epidemic everyday due to poor
waste disposal.
Sule (2004), confirmed that solid waste disposal constitute the
major urban environmental paralysis, a clog in the wheel of
progress in terms of urban environmental purity and sanitation. He
talked about waste as an environmental disaster and aesthetic
decay.
2.2.2 SOURCES OF WASTE
Wastes are complex on nature depending on sources of
generation and the environmental status of the waste. Waste may
be classified according to its origin or sources, physical form or
morph metric, or according to physiochemical properties. Oyediran
(1997) has identified the following sources of waste which include;
- Domestic/municipal solid waste
- Agricultural waste
- Industrial waste
- Commercial waste
- Miscellaneous waste
According to Udofia and Asikong (2005), waste could be bio-
degradable and non biodegradable. The biodegradable wastes are
those domestic wastes which include food remains, garden, paper,
etc which can easily be decomposed by microbes, while the non-
biodegradable wastes are wastes that cannot easily decompose
and are non combustible in nature. These include metals, glass,
ceramics, stones, nails, etc.
However, of all the various sources of waste, attention in waste
disposal is devoted to municipal solid waste, because it is highly
visible and must therefore be collected, transported to dump sites
at all cost. Wastes are complex in nature depending on the source
of generation which gives rise to a large variety of different types of
waste arising from the above listed sources. These include the
domestic waste, industrial waste, agricultural waste and
commercial waste. Domestic wastes are waste generated from
domestic activities such as cooking, garbage, most especially from
homes.
Industrial wastes are by-products from industrial processes. Some
of these materials are made up of hazardous material that contains
a large volume of toxic substances like cyanides, pesticides lead
compound, mercury, etc. They vary depending on the nature of
manufacturing. Waste from plant industry often comes from mixing
tanks, filling equipment, cleaning of floor. Agabi (1995) .
Agricultural wastes are waste materials that emanate from farm
activities which include run. Off of pesticides. Discarded farming
tools, weed from farm lands, to mention but a few. Commercial
waste which come from commercial activities such as marketing
place, departmental of glossary stores, offices, commercial parks,
etc.
2.2.3 WASTE MANAGEMENT METHODS
Waste management is a comprehensive, integrated and rational
system approach towards the achievement and maintenance of
acceptable environment quality. Fred (2004), Modern method of
waste dispose has emerged in response to the recognition of
environmental impact of uncontrolled waste disposal. Ekpoh
(2009), as simple dumping and burning of waste is no longer
fashionable because of the environment and health concern.
The untraceable nature of waste disposal in most of the Nigerian
cities required the knowledge of expertise on urban planning and
environmental engineers, who are charged with the mortal
responsibilities of assigning different land use to appropriate
measures capable of reducing the volume of waste before
transportation to the incinerator or landfill site. Agunwamba (2003),
basically there are various methods of waste management, these
include incineration, sanitary land fill, recycling, open dump, etc.
Incineration is a process where combustible wastes are burned at
temperature high enough (900-1000`c or 2650-1830`f) to consume
all combustible materials, leaving only ash and non-combustibles
to be disposed off in a land fill. Under ideal condition, incineration
may reduce the volume of waste by.75% to 95%, modern
incineration method has electrostatic precipitators, dual scrubbers
and filter to reduce the volume of waste to at least 99% of most
organic materials (anger and least smith 1998).
Burning waste causes irritation of respiratory tract, aggravated
asthma, contributes to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease,
acute/ chronic respiratory disease. The healthy people experience
shortness of breath, sore throats, and breathing difficulties,
dizziness, headaches, etc. It is responsible for fluids collection in
the lungs and fibrotic changes, growth effects DNA, immune and
reproductive system.
Land fill process is designed to concentrate and contain refuse
without creating a nuisance or hazard to public health or safety,
(Daniel and keller 1995). The idea is to confine the waste, reduce it
to the smallest volume and cover with compacted soil to prevent
insects, rodents, seagulls, and avoid ground water percolation.
The open dumping method is the most common and widely used
in development countries. It involves dumping of the waste in a
designated sport which is uncovered. Ekpoh (2003), open dumps
are unsanitary, unsightly and generally smelly, with foul odour as
they attract rats, insects, flies, snakes, etc.
Composting is a biochemical process in which organic materials
such as lawn clipping and Kitchen scraps decompose to a rich
solid like material. It is a process of rapid, partial decomposition of
moist solid organic waste by aerobic organisms. This is a popular
technique in Europe and Asia, where intensive farming centre’s a
demand for the compost. It involves the use of natural microbial
organism to decompose the organic fraction of waste. Composting
is aerobic and produces primarily carbon dioxide, while anaerobic
processes produce methane. Such gas contributes to global
warming.
Recycling is the reprocessing of discarded material into new,
useful product; the ultimate objective is to reduce the amount of
waste that must be disposed in landfill or incinerator. It is a way of
refilling or re-using of old material that may be considered useless,
that has no further use by the consumers, or example, old
aluminum cans and glasses bottles are usually melted and recast
into new cans and bottles.
2.2.4 FACTORS AFFECTING SOLID WASTE GENERATION
Several factors influence the solid waste generation in Port
Harcourt municipal. These factors can be considered below:
Lack of advanced technology, facility for separation at source.
Strength of solid waste management policy and enforcement.
Environmental education and awareness and income status of
individuals among others.
2.2.5 PROBLEMS OF WASTE DISPOSAL
The deterioration of the Nigerian urban environment in terms of
irresponsible dumping and accumulated solid waste is most
apparent in our growing cities today. The dehumanizing effects of
these circumstances in our urban lives and blighted environment
have often been cited and noted as contributing causes of the
Nigerian urban decay, (Asuquo, 1979).
From the United Nations statistics, world population reached 6.1
billion with an annual growth rate of 1.2 percent of about 77 million
people per year. Evidence of the increase in population is reflected
in poor house, slums and squatter settlement with an estimate of
over 750 million people living in urban area. This growth in human
population gives rise to mountainous heaps of waste which
characterizes our cities and towns, like that of Nairobi of Kenya,
Mexico of Mexico city, Lagos of Nigeria etc.
As population increases, as more people move to this few primate
cities in search of better life, the generation and disposal of waste
becomes a major public issue effecting both health and the
aesthetic value of urban centre Oldnira (1995), argued that one of
the major environmental health problems facing Nigerian
especially in the major cities is poor waste management. Edu
(2003) stated that waste is the greatest physical problem that
persistently poses a grave challenge to man on earth. The
indiscriminate dumping of waste along streets, market places,
residential axis in Port-Harcourt constitutes nuisance which causes
serious health hazard, as dumping leads to percolation to pollute
ground water supplies, breeding ground for such annoying and
disease bearing organisms, such as rats, cockroaches, flies, etc.
Uchegbu (1998), in his words said man unguided development
and ineffective solid waste management in urban centres of
Nigeria has resulted to urban degradation and outbreak of
diseases like cholera, malaria, typhoid, bronchial disorders, etc.
Udo (2003), has observed that decomposed waste emits
carbondioxide (CO2) methane gas (ch4), which enhances global
warning white nitrite and nitrate emission causes health hazard
such as carcinogenic and mutagenic nitrosamines. Refuse dumps
serves as breeding places for disease causing organism such as
rats and flies which are major disease vectors associated with
garbage. Rats are known to be involved in the spread of bubonic
plagues to humans. Rats may contaminate food with their urine
transmitting leptospirosis and infective hepatitis. They can transmit
salmonella and other infecting organisms (Odiete 1993).
The problem with waste disposal is multi-facet in nature, as most
of our cities have been overtaken by mountainous heaps of refuse
on roadway, streets, and drainages. This phenomenon can be
traced to several factors that includes poor institution framework
for waste management by the government, inherent rural attitude
of most urban dwellers, poor state of public infrastructure and high
urban poverty among others, (okpechi 2007).
In port-Harcourt, the issue surrounding waste disposal is annoying.
Waste are indiscriminately dumped on the streets, drain ages,
backyards. This becomes a major problem as the aesthetic nature
of the place is reduced. Waste obstructs traffic and even lead to
accident especially at night when visibility is poor. Indiscriminate
dumping of waste along mile one (1) axis of Diobu, leads to
flooding during the raining season, as well as property loss.
Inadequate funding is another important factor militating or acting
as a major problem of waste disposal. The cost of labour,
purchase and maintenances of vehicles involved in the collection
and disposal of waste has risen so high that many sanitation
agencies are already finding it difficult to collect and properly
dispose all the collected wastes, (Agunwanba, 2003). It was in this
context that Uchegbu (1988), argued that the problem of waste
disposal in our cities has gone beyond individuals and communual
effect, and therefore charges the government to be more
committed in making our cities safe and habitable for all.
Mabogunje (1974), pointed out that solid waste problem in
emerging urban centres in Nigeria is a consequence of drastic
change occurring from rural habits, norms and values of the
people to those of urban civilization. As most people residing in the
cities still patronize their bad habit of backyard dumping. He later
argued that they are related to lack of public awareness and
enlightenments.
2.2.6 HIERARCHY OF WASTE MANAGEMENT OPTIONS
Current thinking on the best methods to deal with waste is
centered on a broadly accepted ‘hierarchy of waste management’
(arrangement in order of rank) which gives a priority listing of the
waste management options available. The hierarchy gives
important general guidelines on the relative desirability of the
different management options. The hierarchy usually adopted is
(a) waste minimization/reduction at source (b) recycling, (c) waste
processing (with recovery of resources i.e. materials (products)
and energy), (d) waste transformation (without recovery of
resources) and (e) disposal on land (land filling).
The hierarchy takes the below sequence:
Waste Minimization/reduction
Recycling
Waste Processing
Waste Transformation
Disposal on Land (Land filling)
2.2.7 PROSPECT OF OUR ENVIRONMENT
In view of a prospective solution to any of the above mentioned
problems, their effects, causes and nature which include urban
decay. Akintola (1978), demands first an understanding of its
intrinsic nature. Various scholars have attempted the cause of our
deteriorating urban cities like Turner (1969), Abraham (1978).
Elisabeth Dowdewell UNEP officer said that “the right to health is
an extension to the right of life”. As environmental conservation
and management lies solely in human responsibility. According to
principle one (1) of the UNEP resolution(1992), “humans are
entitled to a healthy environment in harmony with nature”. In order
to ensure an effective waste management and sanitation, both
urban dwellers and government should come together to maintain
a legal and institutional workable framework for waste disposal and
management.
Therefore, a clear understanding depends not so much on the
intrinsic nature of realities of the physical environment as objective
science would prove them to be, but rather on what man have
imagined or conceived in regard to influence around him (Ebong
and Bassey, 2004). Therefore, a clear understanding of the
cognitive imperative and behavior of people constitute a
prerequisite for effective waste disposal vis-a-vis management.
Additionally, a clear understanding that man’ is an inseparable part
of the environmental system constituting his culture and biophysical,
equally serving as an “invisible guiding hand” regulating the
relationship between man and the aesthetic and hygienic status of
his environment, (Stepp and Swan 1970).
In view of a prospective future for waste management in the study
area,
a. Government should own refuse incinerators or landfills (located
outside the cities) for proper management of final disposal sites.
b. Award for most decent cities or layouts could be instituted to
encourage the spirit of competition among residents.
c. Environmental education should be introduced into the curriculum
of primary and secondary schools. Together with sustained public
enlightenment and awareness campaigns that are aimed at
sensitizing the citizens to imbibe clean and healthy habits for high
environmental quality.
d. The wages paid to refuse disposal staff should be made attractive
so that the labourers can take greater interest in their jobs and pay
more attention to fitness in the evacuation and transportation of
waste.
CHAPTER THREE
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
3.1 TYPE OF DATA
The following are the type of data for this study
(i) Source of waste generation
(ii) Categories of solid waste in port-Harcourt metropolis.
(iii) Various method of waste disposal by the people
(iv) Data on effect of solid waste on the people
(v) The frequency of the collection of waste by waste
management agency.
(vi) Facilities used by the agency for waste collection.
(vii) Data on the type of labour (trained or untrained).
(viii) Data on financing the management of waste
3.2 SOURCE OF DATA
The data used for this research work were from two (2) sources.
They are primary and secondary sources. The primary data for this
study was obtained using various techniques. Such as,
questionnaire administration, fieldwork survey and oral interview
with the respondents.
The secondary sources were obtained from the library, resource
room and available literatures. The secondary sources include
research projects, text books, and unpublished books from the
internet about the problems of waste management, journals about
the effects of waste disposal. However, this research work took
advantage of the above data sources to form and effective
research work.
3.3 METHOD OF DATA COLLECTION
The methods used for data collection involved the primary source
(oral interview, questionnaire administration) and secondary
source (text books, research projects, unpublished books from the
internet, and journals about the effects of waste disposal).
Reconnaissance survey was also done in the process of data
collection so as to generate more information for the research
work. A close-ended questionnaire was used with not more than
four (4) options which covered my objectives, hypotheses and bio-
data of the questionnaire which contains personal data.
In each of the six (6) districts (Diobu, Garrision, Marine-Base, Old
G.R.A, Borikiri, Rumuola), Twenty (20) questionnaires were
administered to the selected streets. This formed a total of 120
respondents in the six (6) districts. The first house was selected at
the beginning of each street and the next two houses were skipped
before the fourth house was also sampled. This stratified random
sampling pattern was carried out on both sides of the street. Data
from each respondent was gotten through the administration of
questionnaire and oral interview.
3.4 METHOD OF DATA ANALYSIS
The composition will be analyzed in relation to the various land
uses in the study area. Use of tables, pie chart and histogram is
also employed for the data analysis and presentation. Both
descriptive and inferential techniques were employed in the data
analysis.
Descriptively, data will be described using tables, maps,
frequencies, and measures of central tendency. The inferential
statistical tool used in analyzing the data collection from the field is
Pearson’s Product Moment Correlation which was used to test for
two hypotheses. The first hypothesis was to test for the significant
relationship between the volume of waste generated and the
health condition of the respondents. To test for this, two questions
were drafted into the questionnaire (to know the size of waste
collection in the area and to know how often they treat health
problems relating to indiscriminate disposal of waste in the area) to
obtain data used for testing the hypothesis.
The second hypothesis was to test for the significant relationship
between inadequate waste bin (silo bin) and indiscriminate
disposal of waste. This was also carried out by drafting two
questions into the questionnaire (to know the number of waste bin
and factors leading to indiscriminate disposal of waste in the area)
to derive data used for testing this hypothesis.
3.5 POPULATION OF THE STUDY
It is usually not possible for a researcher to interview the entire
population of the area. The population of port-Harcourt city (within
it municipal boundaries) has risen from 7,000 residents in 1921, to
more than 800,000 in 2006 (census, 2006). The total household
was one-sixth (1/6) of the total population which is 133,333
households, since six (6) people made a household. It is a
heterogeneous population consisting of male, female, indigenes
and non-indigenes, students, public and private works, traders,
residing in different areas and streets in port-Harcourt metropolis.
3.6 SAMPLING TECHNIQUE
In order to study waste disposal in port-Harcourt, the stratified
random sampling technique was applied base on the division of
the study area. The districts include Diobu, Garrison, Marine-Base,
Old G.R.A, Borikiri, Rumuola. In the study area, the streets were
selected randomly (picking six(6) piece of papers out of many in a
bag) through observation of the most affected streets. In each of
these streets, households were chosen using stratified random
sampling. The first house was selected at the beginning of each
street and the next two houses were skipped before the fourth was
also sampled. This method was applied on both parts of the
streets.
In each of the six(6) districts, 20 questionnaires were administered
to the selected streets. Data about each respondent was gotten
through the administered questionnaire. This formed a total of 120
respondents in the six (6) districts. The content of the respondents,
the factors of indiscriminate waste disposal in port-Harcourt
metropolis, the method of waste disposal, the environmental and
health problems caused by indiscriminate waste dump in port-
Harcourt metropolis and the role of Government and other waste
management agencies in port-Harcourt metropolis. This method of
sampling technique was adopted to ensure that a large percentage
of the population is represented and fairly sampled accordingly.
CHAPTER FOUR
DATA PRESENTATION AND DISCUSSION OF FINDINGS
This chapter deals with data presentation, analysis and discussion
of findings. The data obtained through the administration of
questionnaires on the Analysis of Solid Waste Disposal and
Generation in Port- Harcourt municipality, would be analyzed using
graphics and illustrations such as tables, histograms, pie-charts,
frequencies and percentages. For testing of hypothesis, Pearson’s
Product Moment Correlation Coefficient (PPMCC) would be used.
4.1 DATA PRESENTATION AND ANALYSIS
Table 4.1: category of solid waste generated in the study area.
RESPONSE FREQUENCY PERCENTAGE (%)Municipal/ Domestic
waste88 73.33
Industrial waste - -Commercial waste 30 25
Miscellaneous 2 1.67TOTAL 120 100
TABLE 4.1 shows that municipal, domestic waste was mostly
generated in the study area with 73.33% (88) of the respondents
confirming it, while 25% (30) of the respondent are of the view that
commercial waste is mostly generated in the area. 1.67% (2)
respondents agreed it was miscellaneous waste, while non agreed
it was industrial waste because industries weren’t seen around the
since the study area (districts) is filled with residential and
commercial land uses.
TABLE 4.2: People who have waste dump (silo bin) around
the street.
RESPONSE FREQUENCY PERCENTAGE (%)
YES 90 75
NO 30 25
TOTAL 120 100
The data in table 4.2 shows that 75% (90) of the respondents had
waste bins (silo bins) around their streets, while 25% (30) of the
respondents did not have waste bin in their streets. This is
because some areas like Diobu, Marine base and Borikiri lacked
waste dump (silo bins).
TABLE 4.3 Size of waste collected in streets of the study area.
RESPONSE FREQUENCY PERCENTAGE (%)
300./tones 23 19.16
500m/tones 49 40.83
100m/tones 10 8.33
1000,& above tones 38 31.66
TOTAL 120 100
Table 4.3 shows the size of waste collected in the streets of the
study area. 40.83% (49) of the respondents agreed 500 metric
tones, 31.66% (38) of the respondents confirmed 1000m and
above tones. While 19.16 % (23) and 8.33 % (10) went for 300m/
tones and 100m/ tones respectively.
Table 4.4 : How often is waste disposed from your home daily.
RESPONSE FREQUENCY PERCENTAGE (%)
Once 99 82.5
Twice 15 12.5
Thrice 4 3.33
Four or more 2 1.67
TOTAL 120 100
The data in table 4.4 shows the duration in which waste is being
disposed daily. 82.5 % (99) of the respondents dispose their waste
once daily, 12.5% (15) dispose their waste twice daily 3.33% (4) of
the respondents dispose their waste three times daily, and 1.67%
(2) went for four times or more daily.
Table 4.5: Number of waste bins found in that location
RESPONSE FREQUENCY PERCENTAGE (%)
1 44 36.6
2 39 32.5
3 22 18.33
4 and above 15 12.5
TOTAL 120 100
Table 4.5 shows that 36.67% (44) of the respondents opined its
one (1), while 32.5% (39) agreed two (2). 18.33% agreed three (3),
and 12.5% of the respondent confirmed 4 and above.
Table 4.6: Appropriate dumping of waste in the waste bins.
RESPONSE FREQUENCY PERCENTAGE (%)
YES 92 76.67
NO 28 23.33
TOTAL 120 100
Table 4.6 describes the appropriate dumping of waste in the waste
bins. 76.67% (92) agreed that waste is dumped appropriately in
the waste bins, while 23.33% (28) of the respondents disagreed.
Table 4.7: Factors leading to inappropriate disposal of waste.
RESPONSE FREQUENCY PERCENTAGE %
No waste bins 23 19.17
Waste bins are always filled up 38 31.66
High number of persons using the same bin
54 45
Others specify 5 4.17
Total 120 100
This table shows the factors that lead to inappropriate dumping of
waste. 45% (54) of the respondents agreed that it is because of
high number of persons using same bin as a means of waste
disposal. 31.66% (38) agreed that waste bins are always filled up
leading to overflow of waste and causes indiscriminate disposal of
waste. 19.17% (23) of the respondents said they don’t have waste
bins, while 4.17% (5) of the respondents agreed to other causes
that lead to inappropriate dumping of waste.
TABLE 4.8: Amount of money spent on waste evacuation.
RESPONSE FREQUENCY PERCENTAGE (%)
500 34 28.33
1000 44 36.67
2000 24 20
specify 18 15
TOTAL 120 100
This data shows that 36.7 %( 44) spend 1,000 (one thousand
Naira) on waste evacuation mostly by private waste disposal
companies. 28.33% (34) of the respondents said they spend 500
(Five hundred Naira) to dispose their waste. It is done by
employing the services of Hausa boys/men to dispose their waste.
20% (24) of the respondents agreed to spending 2,000 (two
thousand Naira) to private owned waste disposal companies to
dispose their amounts ranging from 100 (a hundred naira) to 5,000
(five thousand Naira).
TABLE 4.9: Health problems as a result of indiscriminate
waste dump.
RESPONSE FREQUENCY PERCENTAGE
Malaria 55 45.83
Cholera 10 8.33
Dysentery 7 5.83
Typhoid 48 40
TOTAL 120 100
Table 4.9 shows the health problems encountered by the people of
this study area, as a result of indiscriminate waste dump. 45.83%
(55) of the respondents opined that its malaria, 40% (48) agreed it
was typhoid, while 8.33% (10) said it was cholera and 5.83% (7)
went for dysentery.
Table 4.10: Number of times health problem is being treated.
RESPONSE FREQUENCY PERCENTAGE
Once a week 17 14.16
Twice a week 10 8.33
Monthly 56 46.67
Twice a month 37 30.83
TOTAL 120 100