1.1 Introduction
Domestic waste is something that is not or no longer used and is to be thrown away or disposed off. It is also any material lacking direct value to the producer and so must be disposed. The management of waste is a matter of national and international concern. The cities, urban areas experience continuous growth which contributes to enormous in generation of solid and liquid waste (Hornby, 2005). Waste management simply means the collection of keeping, treatment and disposal of waste in such a way as render them harmless to human and animal life, the ecology and environment generally. Domestic waste management has become an area of major concern in Nigeria today. It appears to be a losing battle against the harmful consequences of unguided waste and the attainment of clean healthy environment for all Nigerians.
As a prelude to other parts of this study, this chapter will discuss the background upon which this study was initiated, the statement of problems that led to this study, the Aim and Objectives of the study. Others are Significance of the study, Scope of work, Research hypothesis and questions, Limitations of the Study and Definition of technical terms.
1.2 Background of Study
The generation and disposal of waste is an intrinsic part of any developing society. Waste, both from domestic and commercial sources has grown significantly in the society over the past decade. Every time a householder shops at the store, and open market he contributes to the mountain of waste. It is possible to quote figures which show that the production of waste amounts to millions of tons. The percent of Nigeria’s population living in cities and urban area has more than doubled in the last 15 years.
According to Mowee (1990) there is no doubt that a dirty environment affects the standard of living, aesthetic sensibilities, health of the people and thus the quality of their lives. The corollary is that improper disposal or storage of this waste can constitute hazards to the society through the population of air, land and especially water, Mowee (1988).
According to UK Environmental Protection Act, (1990) hereinafter, EPA, defined waste as “any substance which constitutes a scrap material or an effluent or other unwanted surplus substance from application of any process”. Any substance or article which requires to be disposed of as being broken, worn out, contaminated or otherwise spoiled (75 EPA 1990).
Since the inception of the administration, there have been concerted efforts to achieve sustainable waste management in the state. The efforts culminated in the establishment of the Enugu State Waste Management Agency (ESWAMA) in 2004. The Agency was set up to replace defunct Enugu State Environmental Protection Agency (ENSEPA), which failed to meet the challenges of modern day waste management. This repositioning occurred to enable it give more focused service delivery and to restore the past glory of Enugu State as a very clear city through sound waste management.
Ilegbune (1994) states that domestic waste includes that from domestic premises, caravan sites residential homes, educational establishments (schools) and nursing homes and (probably hospitals). It can be organic or non-organic.
ESWAMA was established to develop and implement policies on the management of solid and liquid wastes that would promote the health and well being of the people. The residents are also required to pay approved sanitation rates through designated banks in various zones, when presented with demand notice.
Nnamani (2000) states that sanitation is an act of working out ways to improve the health consideration of a given environment is necessary to overcome the impact of man’s negative activities on the environment.
World Health Organization refers sanitation as the control of all those factors in man’s physical environment which exercise or may exercise a deleterious effect on his physical development, health and survival.
According to Nnamani (2000) Government intention on designating the last Saturday of every month as a sanitation day is to tackle in serious manner the insurmunting problem of ever-increasing waste generated from domestic, commercial recreational and those from working offices.
Therefore, in Nigeria where the research was carried out, the activities that was conducted is to know the Effect and Solution of Domestic Waste Disposal.
1.3 Statement of Problems
Investigation revealed that waste management process in the society is the root development; no country or society can develop in isolation of proper waste management, whereas, there is indiscriminate disposal and dumping of waste in Enugu State. Now how this bad attitude would be controlled in the society.
Since proper waste management is credible to create a change and impact on the environment and people’ health how would people cooperate with the effort of the ESWAMA as an agency and what could be people’ reaction over their job.
ESWAMA as an agency has been empowered by the government to check the illegal dumping of waste at roadsides, enclosures, streams in neighbourhoods and drains. How would government motivate them to carryout their job/responsibilities with dedicated effort and without much stress, in order to promote healthcare and environmental development in the society.
1.4 Aim and Objectives of Study
The aim of the study is to examine the Effect and Solution of Domestic Waste Disposal. In achieving this aim, the following specific objectives were laid out as follows:
- To discover the ability of the ESWAMA as an agency to control and manage waste disposal in the society;
- To find out the effect of domestic waste disposal in the environment and people’ health;
- To find out the effect of waste management process by ESWAMA;
- To discover the solution to domestic waste disposal in the society; and
- To find out how government help to motivate ESWAMA in order to carryout their job objectively.
1.5 Research Questions
The study came up with research questions so as to be able to ascertain the above stated objectives. The specific research questions for the study are stated below as follows:
- Does ESWAMA (Enugu State Waste Management Agency) help to control and manage waste disposal in the society?
- Does improper waste disposal create any effect on the people’s health and environment?
- Does Waste Management process or activities has any impact in people health and environment?
- Does waste disposal in the environment/society has any solution?
- Does government in any way help to motivate ESWAMA in order to carryout their job objectively?
1.6 Research Hypothesis
In order to pursue the objective of this study, the following generalized statements have been designed to guide and aids in obtaining the result for the experiment to be conducted. For this work, the null hypothesis will be represented with H0 while the alternative hypothesis will be represented with hypothesis H1.
Hypothesis One
- H0: Improper waste disposal does not create effect on the people’ health and environment.
- H1: Improper waste disposal creates effect on the people’ health and environment.
Hypothesis Two
- H0: Waste management activities by the ESWAMA have no impact to people’ health and environment.
- H1: Waste management activities by the ESWAMA have a great impact to people’ health and environment.
Hypothesis Three
- H0: Waste disposal in the environment does not have solution/remedy.
- H1: Waste disposal in the environment has a solution/remedy.
1.7 Scope of the Study
The scope of this research is focused on the Effect and Solution of Domestic Waste Disposal. The study is restricted to Ngwo town in Enugu State.
1.8 Significance of Study
Waste management by the ESWAMA has been credited with the ability to control and manage domestic waste disposal in the society. As the topic of the study implies “Domestic Waste Disposal, Effect and the Solution in Enugu State”. Therefore, this study intends to find out the effect of domestic waste disposal and how waste management is being carried out by the ESWAMA through their activities (sanitation).
The result of researches will enable the society to know the impact of sanitation and embark on it, for health care. People will get to know the value of ESWAMA in the society.
This study also indicates the role of waste management in people’s health and environment thereby improving health care and environmental sustainable development. Now that the much emphasis is been placed on the domestic waste disposal, this study/work is most appropriate for it’s aim at finding out how effective people react as a result of waste management in the society.
1.9 Limitations of the Study
During the course of this study, many things militated against its completion, some of which are:
- Time Constraint: The time frame given to accomplish this project was very short due to school academic calendar and it was carried out under pressure which made the researcher not to implement some necessary features.
- Research material: availability of research material is a major setback to the scope of the study.
- Frequent power failure: This made the researcher append more money on fuel to ensure sustainable power.
- Financial Constraint: Insufficient fund tends to impede the efficiency of the researcher in sourcing for the relevant materials, literature or information and in the process of data collection (internet, questionnaire and interview).
1.10 Definition of Terms
Domestic waste disposal: It is any substance which constitutes a scrap material, an effluent or unwanted surplus substance arising from the application of any process.
Effect: A change produced by an action or a cause; a result or an outcome.
Solution: A way of solving a problem, dealing with a difficult situation.
Effect: This is a change produce through domestic waste disposal from Ngwo town metropolis.
Solution: A way of solving, controlling and managing domestic waste disposal of Ngwo town metropolis.
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