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Negative Impacts of Improper Solid Waste Management: A Case Study of Yenagoa Local Government Area, Bayelsa State, Nigeria

Olotu Donatus Tariperedou, Onu Benefit, and Felagha Iniebiyo

Abstract

This study accessed the negative impacts of improper solid waste management practices in Yenagoa Local Government area of Bayelsa State. A total of 120 respondents participated in the study and data was collected using a structured questionnaire. Results were as follows: sex (male- 61.7 %, female-38.3 %), marital status (single-35 %, married-28.3 %, divorced- 20 %, preferred not to say-16.7%), age (10-19 years-16.7 %, 20-29 years-18.3 %, 30-39 years-33.3 %, 40-49 years-11.7 %, 50-59 years-8.3 %, above 60 years-16.7 %), size of household (2-5 individuals- 46.7 %, 5-10 individuals- 33.3 %, 10-15 individuals- 20 %); 60% respondents had lived 6-15years in Yenagoa while 15 reported to have lived over 15years. 41.7% respondents had tertiary education while 15.0% had only primary education. The dominant occupation of the respondents was teaching (40) and the lowest was farming (14). Respondents identified several negative consequences of improper solid waste disposal in Yenagoa including presence of dark flowing water, mosquitoes/cockroaches, bad odour, scavengers and rodents around dumpsites, presence of solid waste in areas other than undesignated places such as in the Epie Creek/lakeside, open spaces, along the road etc. The findings also showed that Yenagoa lacked modern solid waste management technologies and waste collection (using trucks) is inadequate and has resulted in land and water pollution. Improper solid waste management poses a significant threat to cities in Nigeria, thus there is an urgent need for authorities to implement effective waste management strategies to prevent health hazards and environmental degradation.

Keywords

YenagoaSolid waste; management; disposal; dumping; pollution

References

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