Improper Waste Disposal on Public Health
CHAPTER ONE
Objectives o the study
The main objectives if this study is to investigate on Improper waste disposal on public health.
The study have the following specific objectives:
- To examine the current methods of solid waste disposal situation in Nigeria
- To investigate the awareness of the effects of poor refuse disposal and diseases contracted
- To analyze the effects of the solid waste on public health
- To understand the effects of mode of solid waste disposal on health of residents
CHAPTER TWO
LITERATURE REVIEW
Introduction
This chapter consists of a review of literature relevant to the study. The review is based on the objectives of the study stated in chapter one.
Solid Waste Disposal/collection Methods
Disposal of solid wastes on land is by far the most common method in Kenya and probably accounts for more than 90 percent of the nation’s municipal refuse e.g the Dandora dumpsite in Nairobi. Incineration accounts for most of the remainder, whereas composting of solid wastes accounts for only an insignificant amount. Selecting a disposal method depends almost entirely on costs, which in turn are likely to reflect local circumstances. The most common solid waste disposal methods include the following:
Recycling of Solid Waste
Recycling is the process whereby discarded products and materials are reclaimed or recovered, refined or reprocessed, and converted into new or different products(Wegelin E. A, 1990). This term is often used in a wider sense to describe the complete cycle, from collection to production of new objects, or secondary raw materials, from reclaimed material. Recycling is just one of the ways we can minimize waste. Other waste minimization methods include re-use (using an item again for the same purpose for which it was originally made, e.g. re-using a container such as a bottle or glass jar) and repair (mending an item which was unserviceable because of damage or malfunction). Another way of reducing the amount of waste we produce is to divert certain waste materials or substances which have been discarded by one generator to another manufacturer who can use them as raw materials in a different process. This is called waste exchange. Yet another way to reduce the waste stream is to compost the rapidly biodegradable fraction of the waste stream and use the compost to enrich the soil for growing vegetables or other plants. This is in reality a form of recycling. Another form of composting which uses earthworms to speed up the breakdown of organic waste is called ‘vermiculture’.
Biodegradable/organic waste is waste that will decay and eventually go back into the soil and nature. It includes garden refuse (e.g. grass clippings) and animal, fruit or vegetable leftovers resulting from the handling, preparation or cooking of foods. Biodegradable waste includes the ‘wet fraction’ or putrescible fraction (materials that rot) of the general waste stream. If the ‘wet fraction’ is separated at the point of generation from the ‘dry fraction’ (largely the recyclable packaging materials), the dry fraction remains ‘clean’ and therefore more valuable for recycling (US Environmental Protection Agency 2012, page 45).
Recycling is a key factor in the management of solid waste. Recycling turns materials that would otherwise become waste into valuable resources. Not only does recycling divert materials from the landfill, but it also conserves natural resources while using existing ones. The traditional ‘end of pipe’ solution, which focused on dealing with waste once it was produced is, no longer adequate. Now, instead of concentrating on the storage, collection and disposal components of the waste management system more attention is given to the avoidance of waste as a first priority. We must make sure that we have tried every possible way to prevent or reduce waste before we consider re-using or recycling waste material. Recycling programs can affect consumptive as well as recycling behaviors which ultimately impact on both natural resource utilization and the landfill problem.
For community recycling programs to be successful, ease of access is a key requirement and has typically been achieved through regular curbside pick-ups and/or conveniently located drop-off centers (Marans 2009). Municipalities are in a unique position to encourage the kind of lifestyle choices that will promote sustainable living. They can achieve this by taking into account economic, social and natural environmental factors in their decisions and the activities that they undertake. Our constitution embodies the principle that all citizens have the right to live in an environment that is not detrimental to their health and well being – municipal county representatives and officials have a legal duty to make choices that will ensure that the areas under their control do not become degraded or polluted. The way that a municipality controls and manages the waste that is generated within its boundaries has a significant effect on the quality of life of its residents.
CHAPTER THREE
METHODOLOGY
Introduction
This chapter is on the procedure/methodology for carrying out the study. It contains the research design, population of the study, sources of data, sample size determination and the sampling procedure. It also contains the description of research instrument, validity of the instruments and reliability of the instruments; and the methods of data presentation and analysis.
Research Design
The study adopted a of survey design. The survey design is the most appropriate because the researcher does not in any way control or manipulate the independent variable because they are not manipulatable.
Sources of Data
Two sources of data were utilized in the study. The study which was on current issue with historical antecedents demanded primary and secondary sources of data.
Primary Sources
The primary sources of data for the study included personal interviews, direct observations and structured questionnaire sent to the entrepreneurs who were the direct primary providers of information for the study.
Secondary Sources
The secondary sources of data were collected from newspapers, articles and journals, scholars works and other relevant internet sources.
CHAPTER FOUR
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
Majority of the study participants (89%) were females showing a youthful age from 20 years to 40 years as indicated in Table 1. Most of the respondents (90%) were Yorubas and this was attributed the nature of the study prefecture which is dominated by Yorubas Further, formal educations of residents play a significant role in enhancing their quality of life and reduction of related health problems from poor refuse disposal. Most of the respondents (41%) had no formal education. This is partly or wholly due to the fact that most of the residents in the area are settlers from different ethnic backgrounds seeking for greener pastures in other economic activities such as trading. Again, if the refuse generated as a result of the diverse occupational activities in the area is not properly disposed of it could lead to health problems. It was discovered that majority of the respondents (43%) were into petty trading. Moreover, it is normally underlined that high income earning residents have the possibility and the high propensity to afford the cost for proper disposal of solid waste generated than low income earners. In some cases, when the cost for disposing refuse is relatively low, some residents are still not able to afford that, and as such resort to dumping at open dump sites and unauthorized places. It was unearthed that about 51% of the respondents have their monthly earnings below N 2000.00. This means that most of them will face the problem of disposal off their waste properly and can culminate into health predicaments in the area.
CHAPTER FIVE
CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS
Conclusion
The shared experiences from residents showed that, issues of improper solid waste disposal have posed threat to health of residents. The Environmental Health and Health department, and residents in the community are concerned and hoping a lasting strategy would be found to ensure a clean environment and good health for all. The cross tabulation and the chi-square tests on diseases contraction and distance of final disposal sites from the houses showed that, residents living closer to open dump sites have contracted related diseases such as malaria, skin infections among others as result of improper refuse disposal.
Recommendations
It is therefore recommended that final disposal sites for solid wastes should be sited outside residential area, especially the open dumpsites to avoid proliferation pest and diseases. It is further recommended that residents in the area should insist on using mosquito nets to avoid being biting by mosquitoes. In like manner, the district assembly in the study area should provide health education to the people on how to live in good health.
Garbage should be collected regularly to stop overflowing, forcing people to drop solid waste around containers. Strict financial management needs to be taken by local authorities to ensure enough funds are left to attract skilled personnel in solid waste departments.
Government needs to reorganize their operations in a way that waste management is not left to operate under another department, but should be an independent department.
There should be encouragement of private and public participation and the municipality to consider operating a sound public relation programme aimed at securing public approval and ensuring confidence in waste collection and transportation operations. New innovations on equipment and information on refuse management should be annually updated and passed to the Municipality residents or exhibited at industrial shows.
Significantly, if the recommendations of this study are considered and implemented, there is a high tendency of improving the solid waste disposal situation and health risks among residents in the Nigerian community to have a clean environment.
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