Solid Waste Management in Ogbete Main Market, Enugu
CHAPTER ONE
OBJECTIVE OF THE STUDYÂ Â Â Â Â
The main objective of this study is to access solid waste situation in the citizen of Nigeria, more especially in Ogbete main market Enugu. More over the research aims at finding out what should be done in order to reduce the health hazards and of the increasing menace of solid wastes in our market and cities.
CHAPTER TWO
LITERATURE REVIEW
INTRODUCTION
The problem of refuse generation and management in Nigeria is as old as Nigeria herself. This is because from the day man started various activities to feed re-historic ago, refuse were generated and will continue to be generated as long as man lives on earth.
Refuse increases in complexity and volume as man advances in technology and industrialization. And cities in Nigeria provide common scenario. This complexity and increased volume of solid waste generation in cities in Nigeria have tremendous health and scion – economic implication on the lives of city dwellers and the general environment.
Past and present opinion moulders and leaders have been at loss on what to do with mounting heaps of refuse in our cities. The otherwise beautiful senior our cities were once known for have now been replaced by obnoxious decaying odour and physical aesthetic damage to our environment. Before the researcher can delve deep into the review of the relevant literature in this regard, attention will first and foremost be given to the definition of solid waste.
SOLID WASTE
According to American, public works association (1975), the term solid waste “is the useless, unused, unwanted or discard materials resulting from normal community activities”. Furthermore, in the work of Abraham (1971) waste and environmental abuses which manifest themselves in this form of solid, liquid or gas’.   Â
But since we are concerned with solid waste the definition of the American Federal Environmental protection Agency is most embracing and relevant. The Agency saw solid waste as “any garbage refuse sludge from waste treatment plant, water supply treatment and other discharge materials including solid, liquid, semi—solid or contained gaseous materials resulting from varying operations and from various community activities.
Here in Nigeria a definition, which reflected the true situation is the one, propounded by Savas (1977) that “solid waste is any refuse or solid material which is discarded by its owners or users. It consists of commercial, community and industrial based activities and agricultural operation”.
The aforementioned definition typified the nature of solid waste in most urban centers in Nigeria including Enugu urban.
CHAPTER THREE
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
INTRODUCTION
This chapter discusses the research methodology and design adopted in carrying out the study. It includes the methods of data collection, collation and analysis. It also identifies the various sources of information, characteristics of the sample of research population as well as the instrument employed in data collection. Â
It further goes to explain the research procedure as well as statistical quantitative and appraised techniques in data analysis to arrive at genuine conclusion.
RE-STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM
Solid waste management is a very big task, as we all know. It creates a lot of problems to people, which include: drainage blockage (flooding), traffic jam, health hazard and unsightly environment.
It addition, environmental pollution in urban centers due to solid waste is a matter of serious concern to the international, community, for pollution in any form. Interferes with our food chain, health, comfort, amenities, property values and living standards.
Today, all businesses are affected by both environmental changes and government effort towards controlling these changes.
CHAPTER FOUR
DATA PRESENTATION AND ANALYSIS
This chapter deals with the data analysis and presentation. These data include the demographic, socio – economic attributes of shops operation of solid wastes in Ogbete main market, the rate of waste generation by the various shops in the sample corner or places, the general attitude of the shops operators towards waste management and their awareness of health implications.
Data was also sourced from the public Agency concerned with the solid waste management in Ogbete main market, its approaches to waste operations and constraint.
Furthermore, respondents’ opinions and reactions to policy changes against maintaining the present status quo were sampled and data collection on their various suggested opinions.
DATA ON RESPONDENTS
Response to the Questionnaire: A total of six hundred (600) copies of the questionnaire were distributed in the three sampled places and a total of four hundred and fifty (450) were returned while 150 copies were not returned (see table 4.2).
CHAPTER FIVE
FINDINGS/RECOMMENDATIONS/CONCLUSIONS
FINDINGS
Discussion on the findings earlier summarized in the last chapter is presented here: the following findings as it relate to solid wastes management situation in the study are made;
The average rate of solid waste generation per shop per day was found out to be 3.6kg/day.
The total quantity of solid waste generated in the study area is 3.055 x 106kg, which is equivalent to 923m3 using density rate of 330m3kg.
From the tables in chapter four it shows that Enugu State Environmental Protection Authority (ENSEPA) contrary to its enabling edict No 18 provision does not embark on shop to shop collection of refuse.
More questions were asked on the failure of ENSEPA to live up to its refuse disposal duties and it was disclosed that most of the problems ENSEPA have is financial problem. Further examination on the persistence of these problems shows that ENSEPA has wide range of potential revenue sources if well harnessed especially in the area of sanitation rates collection. But the body is fundamentally deficient in organisation and lacks effective revenue collection and management strategy. This shows that the body to operate efficiently since its administrative machinery is impossible because they are weak.
The inadequate of the sanitation rates was ascertained from the respondents and it was discovered that it just required a slight review upwards from the existing level since government subvention will be withdrawal and to this, the sampled population suggested between N20 – N50 per shop/month on graduated levels. Average rate of n30.000/ shop hold was used in our revenue computation.
The ENSEPA has the problem of equipment/machinery, it ws discovered that solid waste operations require peculiar type of equipment. But according to Hick (1984) he warned that the efficiency of solid waste operations does not depend on the level of sophistication of equipment. Therefore, simple equipment machinery is here recommended.
The study areas like other areas in Enugu has good road network and hence the operation of shop to shop refuse collection as advocated here is easy and effective. It was equally discovered that there was no primary sorting of wastes at generation centers. Shop and hence no practice of waste recycling.
RECOMMENDATIONS
After full statement of the findings in this study, it is recommended that solid waste collection and disposal in the study area particular for proper solid waste management, efficient can only be achieved by employing adequate professional like engineers, health management officers, surveyors and valuers, in fact all environmental management experts.
In addition to this, waste management experts should carry out their functions effectively; each department should have a clearly defined work schedule, so as to avoid conflicts. To help these, rigorous monitoring of day activities or operation of each of the experts should be maintained. The administrative staff of ENSEPA should be experts in their different fields. Example, an accountant should be employed to manage revenue department while solid waste experts like Estate surveyor and valuer, engineer and qualified health superintendent should head the operational and health department respectively.
The individual, commercial houses, industries and public institutions should participate effectively in solid waste management; they should provide themselves with refuse bins. They equally have to pay their sanitation rates as stipulated in the edict that established ENSEPA. To enforce this, law enforcement agents should bring defaulters to book, through this way, the shop will imbibe hygienic attitude towards keeping their environment free from spillage of solid waste if the ENSEPA can always send out its field workers to access the efficiency of the contractor and give the feedback.
Furthermore, ENSEPA ought to be assisted by the government because; it is the government that promulgated the edict that established ENSEPA. Government should train more personnel, so as to some in the rural areas. The government should also give subvention to ENSEPA in order to help it stand on its facts. The state and local government should take ENSEPA into consideration during allocation of fund in their annual budgets. ENSEPA in Enugu need adequate office accommodation to function effectively in order to enhance its efficiency.
To introduce modern method of solid waste collection, storage, treatment and disposal method, experts in these fields are therefore needed to implement the following suggested solid waste management methods. It was discovered that ESEPA has no sanitary handful where they deposit their wastes. This results in blockage of P.H. express way by Enugu.
RECOMMENDED TREATMENT
ENSEPA in Enugu should employ the following four methods of treating wastes, this range from physical, chemical, biological and recycling treatments.      Â
- Physical Treatment: This is the process by which solid wastes are separated physically from one another. For materials are crushed compacted or grinded in the form it can be used for and filling.
- Chemical Treatment: This method involves detoxicating some toxic or other dangerous solid wastes with reagents, s that their harmful effect will be reduced.
- Biological treatment: This involves the breaking down of organic wastes by organism or aerobic bacterial to produce a stable and products that may serve as fertilizers.
- Recycling: This method is a resource recovery method that sort out re-usable solid waste materials. It is a process that helps to conserve our natural resources of its continuous depletion. Useless paper can e recycled for further production of exercise books, plastics and metal can be recycled back to its for state. Other examples of waste materials that can be turned for the other purposes include bone from abattoirs which can be used for making breakable plates, scarp metals from abandoned cars (typical examples of scrap metals can be found in industrial streets, main market Ogbete) can be used for making refuse bins and sold to he public at a reduced price. Saw dust can be used for filling the potholes in a surrounding environment.
CONCLUSION
The essence of solid waste management is to create and maintain a condition in the environment that will prevent disease and that shows that the trend to develop further main market Ogbete. This should include the development of solid waste management system that permits progress without harmful side effects. The preservation of public health and the aesthetic of the environment should be of paramount consideration in the management of solid wastes.
Our environment contain potential hazard as (refuse) and their effect upon our health is often forgotten. However, the connection between environment and health is more obvious as there is other much infections diseases spread in this way. Many of the everyday factors within our lives can have a marked effect upon our health. This includes the area and houses we live, the air we breathe, the food we eat and the water we drink.
This study has shown that refuse disposal system and practices in main market Ogbete is inadequate. This sanitary condition has considerably not improved. Though some parts of the two have been taken care of but some areas are yet to be adequately care for. Further fact most of the people are becoming much more aware of the need for a proper refuse management. In order to achieve good health and environment and at the same time, reducing the rate of mortality.
Solid waste management, the “I do not care attitude” of the most people should be established. In order to discourage street littering and indiscriminate dumping of refuse; this can be achieved through launching of mass mobilization campaign by different states and local governments.
Finally, “all and sundry” should join hands together to achieve the greatest effect likeness of good solid waste management in main market Ogbete in order to regain normal health’s.
REFERENCES
- Abraham, C. (1971): The Language of Cities Chicago. Equinox Books, published by Anaron Press Ltd.
- Devise, K. (1976) The urban Economy Urban Structure and functions By W. W. Norton & Company, New York, USA
- Hick, K. (1984): Technology is solid waste management. A modern guide to solid waste management.  Published by Macgregor publication, Illinois U.S.A
- Jones, F. C. (1983): Solid Waste Operations in Thailand  Christol Publisher ltd, Bankok, Thailand.
- Savas, E. S. (1971): Solid Waste Collection Organization and Effectively. Â Lexington books published by Health & Company.
- Wilkie, W. (1975): Jordan’s topical Hygiene and Sanitation; American Public Work Association. By Illinois books Ltd. USA.