World Journal of Engineering Research and Technology

Ugwu K. C.*, Echiegu E. A. and Okonkwo W. I.

ABSTRACT

This study is to assess the amount of solid waste generated and the management techniques employed in Nsukka urban. The author also attempted to find out the type of refuse generated, the amount and the methods of disposal in a day, weekly, monthly and quarterly. The population of the study area was 309,633 at the 2006 census and 450 well structured questionnaires were administered to the residents of various occupational status, sex, marital status and age at simple random technique. The instruments and the structured questionnaires used were validated by instrumentation and measurement expert and the average solid waste generated weekly by the residents of Nsukka urban was 4,970.83m3 at the study period. It was discovered from questionnaires that household size, distance of houses from dumping points, pattern of consumption, garbage disposal method and marital status has a great effect on the refuse generated. It was found from the study that inadequacies of collection trucks, finance and other resources led to inadequate collection and disposal of solid waste and consequent deterioration of environmental quality of the town. The Distance of dumping points from household and lack of individual and public dustbins also led to the creation of illegal dumping points especially along access roads, drainage channels and streets that litter the whole environment. Based on these findings, the author suggestion is to organize public campaigns on waste management, recycle waste, construct good drainage channels and adequately fund the agency that is responsible in solid waste management and disposal and to circulate infrastructure to enable the agency perform successfully.

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