ASSESSMENT OF THE PROBLEM OF SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT: CASE STUDY OF PORT HARCOURT METROPOLIS

                                                                            ABSTRACT

The analysis of the problem of solid waste management  associated with Port Harcourt Metropolis in developing countries, like Nigeria, have become pronounced in recent years as a result of urbanization and inadequate disposal of waste. This paper examines the current method of waste disposal in Port Harcourt city area of River State, attempts to discover the most viable option of solid waste disposal in the study area and recommend ways of improving its operation. Data for this study were collected by questionnaire administration, personal observations, field trips and interviews. 57.9% of the respondents in this practice open dumping, 32.9% burn their wastes while 9.2% dump their wastes in drainages and water bodies. The study reveals that the use of open dumps is the most feasible option of solid waste disposal in the study area. However, the open dumps studied are poorly managed and there is a need to upgrade them to semi controlled landfills in order to prevent road accidents and reduce infiltration of leach-ate and eventual contamination of ground water. Open dumping will continue to be the most widely adopted method of disposing waste by most towns in Nigeria due to their inability to construct engineered landfills. It is therefore important to ensure that the open dumps are improved upon; they should be properly monitored so that they do not become environmental hazards.

Keywords: solid waste, disposal, open dumps, semi controlled landfill, Nigeria

                                                     Table of Contents

Certification    -           -           -           -           -           -           -           -           -           i

Abstract          -           -           -           -           -           -           -           -           -           ii

Table of Content         -           -           -           -           -           -           -           -           iii - v

Acknowledgement      -           -           -           -           -           -           -           -           vi

Dedication      -           -           -           -           -           -           -           -           -           vii

CHAPTER ONE

1.0 INTRODUCTION

1:1       Background of the Study………………………………………………….. 1 - 6

1.2       Statement of Research Problem…………………………………………… 6 - 8

1.3       Significance of the Study…………………………………………………. 8

1.4       Objectives of the Study…………………………………………………….            8 - 9

1.5       Statement of Hypotheses……………………………………………………            9

1.6       Study Area………………………………………………………………….            10 - 11

1.7        Research Questions………………………………………………………..  11

1.8       Location…………………………………………………………………… 12

1.9       Historical Background of the study………………………………………. 12 - 13

1.10     Population…………………………………………………………………  13 - 14

1.11     Scope of the study…………………………………………………………. 14

1.12     Transportation……………………………………………………………… 15

1.13     Socio-economic Activities of the People………………………………….. 15 - 16

1.14     Definition of Terms………………………………………………………… 16 - 17            

 

CHAPTER TWO

2.0 REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE………………………………………           18 - 19

2.1       Literature Review………………………………………………………….. 19

2.2       The Conceptual Framework……………………………..…………………. 19 - 21

2.3       Concept of Solid Waste……………………………………………………..            21 - 23

2.4       Sources of Waste…………………………………………………………....            23 - 25

2.5       Waste Management Methods……………………………………………… 25 - 27

2.5.1    Problems of Waste Disposal…………………………………..…………… 27 - 30

2.6       Summary of literature review and Prospect of Waste Recycling………….. 30 - 33

 

CHAPTER THREE

3.0       RESEARCH METHODOLOGY………………………………………..            34

3.1       Research Design…………………………………………………………….            34 - 35

3.2       The Population of the Study……………………………………………….. 35

3.3       Sample and Sampling Technique……………………………………………35

3.4       Research Instrument for Data Collection………………………………….. 35 - 36

3.5       Validity of Instrument………………………………………………………            36 – 37

3.6       Reliability on the Instrument………………………………………………. 37 - 38

3.7       Data Collection Procedure…………………………………………………. 38

 

CHAPTER FOUR

4.0       DISCUSSION OF RESULTS……………………………………………  39 - 41

4.1       Solid Demographic Characteristics of the Respondents in Port-Harcourt

            Metropolis………………………………………………………………….. 41 - 45

 

  CHAPETR FIVE

5.0       CONCLUSION SUMMARY AND RECOMMENDATIONS…………            46 - 60

5.1       Discussion of Findings ……………………………………………………..            44 - 60

5.2       Summary…………………………………………………………………… 60 - 62

5.3       Conclusion…………………………………………………………………. 62 - 64

5.4       Recommendations…………………………………………………………..            64 - 65

References………………………………………………………………… 66 - 68

 

                                                                    LIST OF FIGURES

Figure 2:1 First Figure in Chapter 2

Figure 2:2 Second Figure in Chapter 2

Figure 2:3 Third Figure in Chapter 2

List of Tables

Table 4:1 First Table in chapter 4

Table 4:2 Second Table in chapter 4

Table 4:3 Third Table in chapter 4