STUDIES ON THE EFFECT OF MUNICIPAL SOLID WASTE DUMP SITES IN OKIGWE MUNICIPAL, IMO STATE, NIGERIA

Etusim, P.E., Umeham, S.N., and Ezurike, C.

Public/Environmental Health Research Group

Department of Animal and Environmental Biology

Abia State University, Uturu, Abia State, Nigeria.

E-mail: etusimp@gmail.com

ABSTRACT

Solid waste management is a growing problem in the world especially in a developing country like Nigeria. In Nigeria, the prevalence of Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) is alarming with its public health and environmental consequences. These have led to the formulation of different policies which often have proved ineffective. Improper environmental engineering and lack of executive will to punish offenders have converted most of the municipal street to refuse dumping sites. Sequel to the aforementioned, we identified 18 major waste dumps in Okigwe metropolis covering a land area of 36171.2m² estimated at N232,607,260. 12(66.7%) were found to disrupt movement of erosion while 6(33.3%) obstruct pedestrian and vehicle movement. All the dumpsites were found to harbour vectors of public health implications. Out of the 2059.094kg MSW characterized, 930.45kg (45.19%) were biodegradables while 1128.64kg (54.81%) were non-biodegradables. Among the biodegradable MSW, food waste recorded the highest weight 317.04kg (35.57%), while medical waste 5.42kg (0.61%) recorded the least. Wood, Fabric, Paper and Leather wastes recorded 96.76kg (10.86%), 155.22kg (17.42%), 255.41kg (28.66%) and 61.41kg (6.41%). Of the non-biodegradable MSW Polythene 325.9kg (28.91%) recorded the highest weight while Medical waste 5.48kg (0.49kg) recorded the least. Metal, Rubber, Glass and bottle, Ceramics, and Grit recorded 206.39kg (18.31%), 68.9kg (6.11%), 160.17kg (14.21%), 86.1kg (7.64%) and 274.5kg (24.35%) respectively.