1.1 Introduction
Waste disposal techniques is the elimination of all waste resulting from solid human and animal activity that is abandoned as undesirable or worthless. By producing lines, processes, or materials that would be needed to be disposed of legally is also included (Asomani et al. 2008). Solid waste refers to municipal waste from domestic, commercial, institutions and industrial sources but excluding excreta, except when it mixed with solid waste. It is however necessary to note that in developing countries many a times it becomes difficult or even impractical to put a line between excreta and solid waste. In many instances, solid waste mixed with excreta is potentially dangerous to human and animals’ health (Levine & Coed (2004).
Solid waste may be categorized based on its physical characteristics, usefulness, environmental risk, and resources. Practices for disposing of waste also involve producing lines, processes, or materials that could be needed to be disposed of legally. Resources, environmental factors, hazards, physical attributes, and utilities can all be used to categories solid waste (Buckle and Smith, 2000).
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, Limitation of the study and Definition of terms.
1.2 Background of Study
In Nigeria today, the generation of refuse and its possible impacts on public health, environmental quality, and urban planning are major national concerns. All parties involved in maintaining the environment's beauty and safety have realized the detrimental effects of persistent solid human waste in our cities' residential neighbourhoods, markets, schools, and core business districts. There is no longer any question that our cities are facing the problems of excessive solid waste (Imam, A Mohammed, B Wilson, DC, AND Cheesman). These solid wastes have become a recurring element in our cities or urban environment. Urban residents must so often deal with the hazards impacting everyone's health and safety.
Solid waste disposal is both urban and rural problem. Every person is a potential generator of waste and this is a contributor to this problem. To generate waste is one thing, the type of waste generated is another and also the way the generated waste is managed or disposed of is quite a different issue. It has more often than not turned out that the rate at which solid waste is generated is far higher than the capacity to responsibly manage this waste. Waste is generated by, and from different sectors, domestic, commercial, industry and others and in many instances; the waste management responsibility has been left to the government or administrative authorities. There is growing consensus that the immediate stakeholders in the issue of solid waste (the generators of waste), in this case the authorities is dealing with this problem that has far-reaching environmental and human health effects.
Navarro (2008) stated that waste generation increases not only because people multiply and hence the space available to each person becomes smaller, but also because the demand per person are continually increasing so that each person throws away more year by year. If the world’s population were evenly distributed over the earth surface most of these wastes could probably remain unnoticed and perhaps harmless. But as city population increases, their residues also increases and concentrate around them.
Solid waste disposal plays a multiple role in maintaining health and social stability and in preserving the values of a decent family life, community, State even the nation as a whole, This is because it constitute the physical environment in which society’s basic units develops. The improvement represents a concrete and visible rise in the general level of living conditions in a given location.
Agbaje, (2008) defined wastes as rubbish or materials that are not needed and are economically unusable without further processing. It may be in liquid, gas, or solid from and originated from a wide range of human operations, such as industry, commerce, transport, agriculture, medicine, and domestic activities.
UNPFA, (2006) defined waste as something which the owners no longer want at a specific time. Solid wastes can be generated from domestic, industrial, commercial and agricultural activities as long as there are human activities going on waste must be generated. However, poor solid waste disposal has been a major public health issues affecting the health quality of life of man and its environment. In most African countries where their level of hygiene is low, accumulation of solid waste has created some health problems which are also the primary cause of epidemic resulting in severe deterioration of their health and environment.
Osinowo, (2003) stated that it is no longer news that Lagos State is over populated with about 17 million inhabitants; and houses about 50% of industries in Nigeria. Thus, waste is generated much more than any other state in the federation. Considering the public health implications varying from transmission of communicable diseases such as yellow fever, diarrhea, cholera with malaria accounting for 25% child mortality rate in Nigeria, continuous increase in indiscriminate dumping of waste has however led to spreading of vector their and borne vehicle diseases like malaria and cholera. It has also lead to offensive odour contamination of underground water, loss of aesthetic value of the environment, and flooding as a result of accumulated wastes blocking the high ways and drainage.
The responsibility for solid waste management is placed on the shoulder of the ministry of environment (MOE), Sanitation Department of Local Government and Government Agency in particular Lagos State Waste Management Authority (LAWMA). It is noted that, solid waste disposal in Igando is being complicated on daily basis due to population growth and increase in the rate of waste being generated by the populace, which necessitates this research work.
Therefore, in Nigeria where the research was carried out, the activities that was conducted is to know the Perceived Effect of Solid Waste Disposal Techniques on Health Status of Community Residents.
1.3 Statement of Problems
Investigation revealed that solid waste disposal has been a major problem to mankind; indiscriminate waste disposal has posed major threat to human health and ecosystem. Terrestrial and aquatic lives are exposed to various health hazards due to failure of mankind to go extra mile in waste management science.
The inherent problems of waste generation, collection and disposal includes outbreak of epidemic environmental pollution and flood which often occurred due to persistent dumping of personal, industrial and domestic waste into the drainage. It is noted with dismay that indiscriminate disposal of solid waste on the highway is the causes of road accident. The prevalence of malaria and other vector and vehicle borne diseases are traceable to failure on the part of both the government and the community to instill right attitude toward waste disposal.
1.4 Aim and Objectives of Study
The aim of the study is to scrutinize the Perceived Effect of Solid Waste Disposal Techniques on Health Status of Community Residents. In achieving this aim, the following specific objectives were laid out as follows to:
- Establish whether there are plans in place by the waste collector, to improve residents participation for better solid waste disposal in Igando;
- Identify the present disposal approaches and methods practiced in Igando Local Government Area;
- Identify challenges of solid waste disposal in Igando Local Government Area;
- Enumerate the roles of stakeholders; and
- Suggest and evaluate resident’s initiatives of solving the problem of effect of solid waste disposal in Igando Local Government Area.
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:
- Will open dump techniques on health status affect solid waste disposal in Igando Local Government Area?
- Will incineration techniques on health status affect solid waste disposal in Igando Local Government Area?
- Will landfill techniques on health status affect solid waste disposal in Igando Local Government Area?
- Will recycling techniques on health status affect solid waste disposal in Igando Local Government Area?
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.
- H01: Open dump techniques on health status will not significantly affect solid waste disposal in Igando Local Government Area.
- H02: Incineration techniques on health status will not significantly affect solid waste disposal in Igando Local Government Area.
- H03: Landfill techniques on health status will not significantly affect solid waste disposal in Igando Local Government Area.
- H04: Recycling techniques on health status will not significantly affect waste disposal in Igando Local Government Area.
1.7 Significance of Study
The study would be useful to the Lagos State Government as the researcher had laid emphasis on challenges to an effective solid waste disposal system in Lagos. The study would also be useful to the community, during the process of educating them on the proper way of disposing solid waste. It may further put every stakeholder on their toes.
1.8 Scope (Delimitation) of the Study
The scope of the research is focused on the Perceived Effect of Solid Waste Disposal Techniques on Health Status of Community Residents in Igando Local Government Area of Lagos State, Nigeria.
The study would be delimited to the following:
- Primary stakeholders which includes, residents, Lagos State Waste Management Authority(LAWMA), Private Sector Participation ( PSP) operators
- Four (4) Local Community Development Area ( LCDA) .This includes ,Ifeoluwa, Banjo,Feyintola and Oduduwa
- Self developed structured and validated questionnaire.
- Four hundred and sixty four (464) members of the communities
- Simple random and purposive sampling techniques.
- Descriptive statistics of simple percentage and frequency table
- Spearman ranking for testing the reliability of the instrument.
1.9 Limitations of the Study
During the course of this study, there were some problems encountered which stood as limitations to the research work. Some of the limitations include:
- Challenges on the Literacy Level of the Respondents: The researcher and the assistants have read in languages which the respondents understood as they indicated their opinion on the question items.
- 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.
- 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).
- Initial Cooperation Delay from Respondents: A particular limitation of this work came as a result of the respondent refusal to offer their cooperation at the initial time they were contacted. This contributed in making the success of this research study difficult.
1.10 Definition of Terms
Waste:
It is an unwanted materials being produce by man and his environment.
Community:
This is defined as group of people living together in a social unit having common interest, laws and culture.
Health:
It is a state of wellness physical and mental not merely the absence of disease or infirmity
Solid Waste:
This is waste materials resulting from human activities that ares useless or unwanted.
Disease:
It is the abnormal state of health.
Refuse:
Refuse is which the owner no longer wants at specific period of time.
Domestic Refuse:
Are refuse that arises from domestic activities.
Recycling:
This is the process of collection, disposal and transformation of economical valuable materials from waste which are used for production of new items.
Environmental Sanitation:
This is the activities that deal with keeping and maintaining clean and tidy vicinity and surrounding.
