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, Limitation 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.
Refuse generation and its likely effects on the health, quality of environment and the urban landscape have become burning national issues in Nigeria today. All stakeholders concern with the safety and the beautification of our environment have come to realize the negative consequences of uncleared solid human wastes found in residential neighbourhoods, markets, schools, and central business districts in our cities. These solid wastes have become recurring features in our urban environment. It is no longer in doubt that Nigerian cities are inundated with the challenges of uncleared solid wastes. As a result, urban residents are often confronted with the hazardous impact to their collective health and safety.
A United Nations Report (August 2004) noted with regret that while developing countries are improving access to clean drinking water they are falling behind on sanitation goals. At one of its summit in 2000 (Uwaegbelun 2004) revealed that The World Health Organization-(WHO 2004) and United Nations International Children Education Fund- (UNICEF 2004) joint report in August 2004 that: “about 2.4 billion people will likely face the risk of needless disease and death by the target of 2015 because of bad sanitation”. The report also noted that bad sanitation – decaying or non-existent sewage system and toilets- fuels the spread of diseases like cholera and basic illness like diarrhea, which kills a child every 21 seconds.
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).
Nnamani (2000) states that sanitation is an act of working out ways to improve the health consideration of a given environment are 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.
Sadly, there seems a resignation to the unremitting solid wastes build up by the relevant authorities, where such bodies exist at all. However, in reactions to the inescapable environmental impact of delay in solid wastes removal, the federal government for example, introduced the monthly environmental sanitation in the early seventies. There from the States and Local Governments were expected to take a cue and evolve their own solid wastes management (SWM) strategies based on the peculiarities of their environment.
Each state had in the process of mitigating urban solid wastes, set up Wastes Management Boards (WMB) in attempts to tackle the occurrence of wastes and their hazards to society as a whole. While the unhealthy aspects of abandoned solid wastes can be contained, the more avoidable features of blocked drains, traffic impedance and floods have yet to be fully tackled.
It is expected that government would in due course arrive at the means to combat solid wastes and reduce their negative impact on area residents and the perception of our cities as being dirty, chaotic, and full of traces of rotting or fermenting garbage that emit odours harmful to the human body. Obviously, the timely removal of accumulated solid wastes require much more than our governments at all levels are presently engaged in. Further plans, policies and programs would need to be put on a more permanent basis in order to combat the dastardly effects of environmental degradation. Understandably, it would require effective mobilization of resources such as involving all stakeholders in regular counter measure to suppress uncontrolled solid wastes generation and irregular disposal outside city confines altogether.
Therefore, in Nigeria where the research was carried out, the activities that was conducted is to know the Impact of Industrial and Domestic Waste on our Environment.
1.3 Statement of Problems
Investigation revealed the result of increased urbanization and infrequent environmental sanitation exercises, urban residents dump solid wastes carelessly or haphazardly – anywhere they deem fit. Such controversial tendencies and attributes would seem incomprehensible; if we desire to live in beauteous environments. Some of the lagoon front in the country has been turned into a dump for human and all sorts of solid waste. Trucks fully loaded with feces queue up in large numbers to discharge the contents into the lagoon (Njoku 2006). Environmental experts are of the view that the implication of this practice is very grave. The failure of relevant agencies to stem the tide of reckless waste dumping and littering of Nigerian cities’ infrastructure (streets and roads) and surrounding bushes indicate a clear pattern of non-enforcement or non-implementation of existing environmental sanitation laws.
Irregular and unplanned dumping of solid wastes, especially at night, which are often in gross violation of relevant rules and regulations continue to hinder plan preparations and effective land use delineation which were expected to usher in a beautiful, clean and orderly environment. Consequently, there remains a huge gap between policy formulation, execution and implementation which exacerbate the problem of solid waste management in Nigerian cities which necessitate the need to evaluate the impact of industrial and domestic waste on the environment.
1.4 Aim and Objectives of Study
The aim of the study is to examine the Impact of Industrial and Domestic Waste on our Environment. In achieving this aim, the following specific objectives were laid out as follows:
- To evaluate the problems of industrial and domestic waste in Nigeria.
- To examine the consequences of poor industrial and domestic waste on the environment.
- To identify the strategies than has been adopted in industrial and domestic waste management in Nigeria.
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 improper waste disposal create any effect on the people’s health and environment?
- Does waste disposal in the environment/society has any solution?
- What are the problems of industrial and domestic waste in Nigeria?
- What are the consequences of poor industrial and domestic waste on the environment?
- What are the strategies than has been adopted in industrial and domestic waste management in Nigeria?
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: Industrial and domestic waste management practice has no significant impact on environment in Nigeria.
- H1: Industrial and domestic waste management practice has significant impact on environmental sustainability in Nigeria.
Hypothesis Two
- 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.
1.7 Scope of the Study
The study focuses on the Impact of Industrial and Domestic Waste on our Environment. The study is restricted to Ngwo town in Enugu State.
1.8 Significance of Study
This study is of great significance as it will educate the public, stakeholders in environmental management, students, government and policy makers on the problems of industrial waste management focusing on the environment with a view of identifying management strategies to combat the menace associated with poor solid waste management.
This research will also serve as a resource base to other scholars and researchers interested in carrying out further research in this field subsequently, if applied will go to an extent to provide new explanation to the topic.
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.
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.
Domestic waste disposal: This is any material lacking directive value to people of Ngwo Town (Ngwo metropolis) and so must be disposed of.
Industrial Waste: The waste produced by industrial activity which includes any material that is rendered useless during a manufacturing process such as that of factories, industries, mills, and mining operations. Toxic waste, chemical waste, industrial solid waste and municipal solid waste are designations of industrial wastes.
Domestic Waste: Is waste that is generated as a result of the ordinary day-to-day use of a domestic premise and is either collected by or on behalf of a local government as part of a waste collection and disposal system.
Environment: The surroundings or conditions in which a person, animal, or plant lives or operates.
Management: The process of dealing with or controlling things or people.
1.11 Organization of Study
The study comprises of 5 chapters. In chapter one, the concepts are introduced and the problem of the study is established with the research objectives and questions. Chapter two presents the literature review while chapter three presents the research methodology. The fourth chapter presents the results and discussion, and the last chapter presents the conclusion and recommendation.
