Waste Management in Akungba-Akoko
Waste Management in Akungba-Akoko
Corresponding author: Olabode AD, Department of Geography and Planning Sciences, Adekunle Ajasin
*
Abstract
The manuscript assessed waste generation and sanitation strategies with a view to establish quality sanitation control for sustainable
environmental management in the study area through questionnaire and secondary data using the methods of systematic random
sampling technique and descriptive analysis. The study established that despite the efforts in reducing waste and its associated problems
in the study area, increased population (30.4%) contributes highly to continuous waste generation with tendency of high flooding
occurrence (24%). Also, the calculated R value (0.393) indicates that there is existing relationship among the waste parameters and
the observed influence within the environment. This shows that improper waste disposal would lead to continuous reduction in
environmental quality inform of disease outbreak, flooding and pollution. The study therefore suggests that government should introduce
environmental sanitation task force for effective supervision of the environmental sanitation exercise.
Keywords: Waste; Environment; Disposal; Flooding
Introduction
As the human population increases, the quantity of solid waste generation increases worldwide. The quantity of solid waste
generation in various countries of the world depends largely on the population, socio economic status of the citizens and kinds of
commercial activities being predominant [1]. Research has shown that the quantity of solid waste generated on the earth surface
today is far greater than the one in the past years across the world, especially in most of African countries.
For example, in a country like Ghana, Boadi and Kuitunene conclude that waste management has been a difficult issue that extend
from the state to the local municipalities, and refuse of all shapes and sizes is a common site in both urban and rural areas [2]. These
difficulties are concentrated and complicated by population pressures in the few heavily populated cities of which Accra is the
most prominent. Inequality features heavily in the capital. It was further observed that 80 % of the city population are low income
earners and live in high density population areas. The middle class is occupied by 17% of the population. Only 3% of Accra lives in
high income, low density residential areas. The sanitary infrastructure of Accra is reflective of the income divisions. Only 30% of
all houses have toilets that actually flush, while only 1 in every 5 houses has functioning indoor plumbing. The public latrines that
have been built to accommodate these disparities are overused and often shared by 10 or more people.
Mabogunje has described the situation of Nigeria environment as “filth and squalor” [3]. This is because there is lack of proper
collection and disposal of sewage, liquid and solid waste which constitutes to a major public health issue and vital factor affecting
the quality of an ideal environment. Heaps of refuse and garbage are commonly sighted in urban centers of the country together
with a host of other ill that plague her cities.
Indeed, Nigerian Government has made huge effort to overcome littered environment. For instance, the state government of Ondo,
where the study falls, is saddled with the responsibility of waste management through “Environmental Sanitation Authority and
State Waste Disposal Board”. Despite such effort by the government to solve the problems of waste collection and disposal, there is
little to show that tangible result has been achieved.
This study, however, considers implications of littered materials on human environment with a view to establish effective waste
generation and sanitation strategies for sustainable development. This study would help in policy formulation on waste management
in the developing countries. Proper management of wastes is capable of averting the nuisance and its disastrous effect on the
inhabitant.
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Study Area
Akungba-Akoko is found in Akoko South West Local Government Area of Ondo state, Nigeria. It is one of the educational
institution towns at a distance of 56km away from Akure the capital of Ondo state. This study location is situated between latitude
7028’ and 7030’N of the equator and longitudes 5044’ and 500’E of Greenwich meridian. It is bounded by Ikare-Akoko to the north,
Etioro-Akoko to the south, while to the east and west by Supare-Akoko and Iwaro-Akoko respectively (Figure 1).
The climate of the study area is equatorial with two peaks of rainfall and a dry season. The two peaks of rainfall made up the wet
season in the study area. The first peak comes up between April and July while the second peak falls between late August and
October. These two peaks are marked by heavy rainfall with the mean annual rainfall of 1500-2000 mm. The dry season is between
November to March. Akungba-Akoko relative humidity varies from 75-95% and this result into severe cold condition in most
cases. As observed by Duze and Ojo in the mean annual temperature of the study area is 23-26 °C [4].
The people in Akungba-Akoko engage in traditional activities which include farming, weaving, petty and trading. The major
occupation of the indigenes is farming. Food crops like yam, cassava, potatoes, maize and vegetables are grown for local consumption
and sales at the various marketing systems. Akungba has two major markets known as Ibaka market and Okusa. Both markets are
rural periodic day markets. The study area is the host community of Adekunle Ajasin University. The other prominent industry in
the study area is block making industries. According to the National Population Commission (2006), the population of Akungba
Akoko is 15,579 [5].
Conceptual Issues
Waste and waste generation in Nigeria
According to Afolabi (2005), waste accumulated in such large heaps along some street that it impedes pedestrian and vehicular
traffic most especially in the neighborhoods of markets [6]. Refuse heaps also block gutters and other drainage channels thereby
perpetuating flooding during rain storms. This indisposed refuse gives rise to offensive odor and stench which is furious to human
health. The uncollected refuse accumulates in drain, roads and open spaces, causing disruption of community life and creating
additional problems in the operation of the other public services. Waste can cause serious and long term pollution of land, air and
water. Large areas of land have been spotted by careless dumping of waste and soils on many sites have been made unstable and
toxic by the careless deposition of waste.
According to Daniel, et al. geo-technical practice for waste disposal to maintain balance hygienic balance in our society [7]. For
example, various methods of disposing waste have been highlighted; Land Fill: This is the most common and probably account for
more than 80 percent of the nation’s municipal refuse. It is the most effective method of disposal, with collection and transportation
accounting for 75 percent of the total lost.
Refuse is also burned in incinerators; it is more expensive but a safe method of disposal than landfills. Modern incinerators have
poisoned air, soil, and water. Communities near incinerators have objected to them because of fears about possible emissions.
Organic materials that have little or no heavy metals can be detoxicated biologically. Composing and land farming in which
materials are spread out over a large land area so that microbes can decompose them are examples of biological treatment of
hazardous waste. If the materials are not detoxicated before they percolate into the ground water, obvious repercussion may
occur. The practice of recycling waste is an old one, metal implement were melting down and recast in pre historic times. Today,
recyclable materials are recovered from municipal refuse by a number of methods, including shredding, magnetic separation of
metals, screening, and washing compositing which includes preparing refuse and breakdown of organic matter by aerobic micro-
organisms, those who generate solid waste to keep recyclable items separate them from other waste.
Oluwande shows a higher percentage of organic waste in the traditional (indigenous) core area of Ibadan city with vegetable matter
leaves accounting for 81 percent of all the refuse than in the Government Reserved Areas (GRA), where highly classed people live
[8]. Waste like plastics, tins, metals, bottles and glasses with other miscellaneous goods characterized the GRA. According to him,
refuse disposal is the expression used to describe the unit process adopted to ensure that the refuse is not nuisance misname in
human environment.
Academicians, government officials and journalists have written in the spatial setting of environmental sanitation and the problem
of waste disposal in Nigerian communities and world over the concept of waste which has been a vital issue that should be opened
up for discussion, every aspect of waste that includes the source of waste, waste collection and disposal, the cost structure of
undertaking waste management programmes.
According to Akintola, he says that the problem of waste is the creation of atmosphere that encourages the public to use the depots
and minimized the disposal of waste in streets, street channels and open drains [9]. He advanced that the incapability of the waste
disposal board to handle the waste generated due to lack of vehicle or that the one available have broken down with more vehicles
on the road and more capable personnel; he hopes that the accumulated waste could be cleared away totally.
According to Malombe, irregular services rendered to producers of refuse by municipal councils compel them to find ways of
disposing of refuse [10]. He observed that the main methods adopted by the producers are burning, composting, or indiscriminate
dumping. This is very pertinent in the study area where waste management services are largely inefficient and ineffective.
As noted by Benneh, et al., it is estimated that a larger percentage of the population dump their refuse in either authorized or
unauthorized sites in their neighborhoods, and due to weak capacity to handle solid waste, unsanitary conditions are created
[11]. It is further observed that residential domestic waste forms the bulk of all sources of solid waste produced in all areas. The
household wastes are known to have high densities with high moisture content and the organic component of solid waste, which
properly account for a great percentage, while tins, cans, and paper takes the other percentage. They further argued that inefficient
communal facilities can lead to open defecation along beaches, drains and open spaces and the tendency for fecal materials to
become intermixed with household refuse.
To the problems of disposal of waste, where depots, drums and dust bins are provided, he noted that these waste found in gutters,
stream channels and open surfaces has been spread by wind or washed down by run- off with streams channel and other depressions.
He explained that most depots are not cleared and these gives room for deliberate littering of the depots and environment by the
disposers.
Ogbonna, et al. mentioned a number of factors that influence the quantity of solid waste generation in Nigeria to include lack
of advanced technology and facilities for separation at the source, strength of solid waste management policy and enforcement,
environmental education and awareness, income status of the individual, among others [12]. These factors determine the quantity
and even the rate of solid waste generation in the area [12].
Similarly, Sridhar and Adeoye, stated that the quantity of solid waste generation in various states of Nigeria depends on population,
socio economic status of the cities and kinds of commercial activities being predominant. He says population is the greatest
determining of solid waste generation in any part of the world [1].
Adewumi, et al. agree with the view of Sridhar and Adeoye which says population is the most determining factor of solid waste
generation [1,13]. They add that, Nigeria having the population of 120 million people generates 0.58kg per person per day. They
further give the breakdown of solid waste generates by some cities in Nigeria to include: Abeokuta in Ogun states generates
0.60kg/person/ days, Ado Ekiti in Ekiti 0.71kg/person/day, Akure in Ondo state generates 0.71kg/person/day, Ile Ife in Osun
state generates 0.46kg/person/day, Ibadan in Oyo state 0.74kg/person/day. Also, about 55200kk/person/day of solid waste were
estimated to be generated in the traditional city in Oyo state.
According to Onibokun and Kumuyi, cities in Nigeria, being among the fast growing cities in the world all faced with the problem
of solid waste generation [14]. The implication is serious when a country is growing rapidly and the wastes are not efficiently
managed.
Geoffrey maintained that, “of the different categories of waste being generated, solid waste had posed a hydra-head problem
beyond the scope of various waste management systems in Nigeria as the streets experience continual presence of waste from
commercial activities [15].
Abel agrees with the view of Ogbonna, et al. and makes it peculiar that education, income and social status are the important
factors influencing per- capital waste generation in Ogbomosho, Oyo state [11,16]. The study has deduced that, the quantities
of solid waste in most parts of the world are dependent on the type of activities practiced by the inhabitant of the place. These
activities include food production, timber harvesting, trading, and farming, among others. Each of these activities produces by-
products in the solid form which can be termed solid waste. Some of the solid wastes are biodegradable (decay with the aid of
decaying organism) while others are non-degradable (cannot decay). Degradable solid waste influences the environment both
positively and negatively.
Methodology
Data were collected from both primary and secondary sources. Primary data were obtained through the use of questionnaire. The
questions were divided into three sections which include socio – economic status of the respondents, waste materials generated and
method of waste disposal, and effect of waste materials, and waste management strategies employed in the study area. However,
secondary data were sourced from relevant documents of waste disposal and management. Systematic random sampling technique
was adopted for data collection through which, every 10th houses was selected. Twenty-Five (25) copies of questionnaire were
administered in each of the five (5) quarters of the study area. In all, a total of 125 questionnaires were distributed and used in the
course of this study. Both descriptive and inferential statistics were employed. Descriptive analysis includes simple percentages;
while regression analysis was used to establish significant relationship between the waste parameters and effects in the study area.
Simple tabulation was employed for the presentation of results.
Discussion of Results
Characteristics of the respondents
The study revealed highest response of 54% from female respondents in the study area (Table 1). This further explained 8%
difference from the response received from the male. The observed scenario established the facts that female are the major subjects
who are regularly engaged in trading activities. Among the respondents, it was equally observed that highest percentage of 42 was
recorded between ages 18 to 30 years. This indicates that majority of the respondents are from maturity circle whose responses are
with some level of reliability.
In view of the current trend of employment saga in Nigeria, most of the respondents were unemployed, though engaged in self-
employment. The study revealed that 58% the sampled population in the study area are fully engaged in self-reliance. This is more
so in terms of various petty trading through which they earn daily living. Despite the fact that majority of the people involved
in this study are with higher educational qualification of tertiary institution, still the menace of indiscriminate waste disposal is
evident in the area. It was gathered that 49% of the highest tertiary education is a function of the environment being an academic
environment. The educational situation as observed in this study has assisted in accurate and knowledge based response to
questionnaire.
This study is in firm agreement with the work of Malombe, who submitted that irregular services rendered to producers of waste
by municipal councils compel them to find ways of disposing of refuse [10]. He observes that the main methods adopted by the
producers are burning, composting or indiscriminate dumping. Also, Benneh, et al. (1993) estimated that a larger percentage of the
population dump their refuse in an authorized or unauthorized sites in their neighborhood due to weak capacity to handle waste,
which results into unsanitary environmental conditions [11].
Residential waste bin is a first-hand-container kept in an accessible range within or outside a building where domestic wastes are
being dislodged. The study observed in Figure 3 that 21.6% of the residents lack this basic waste container in their various homes,
which is responsible for improper disposal of waste in the area. In relation to this finding, Benneh, et al. (1993) established that
because the capacity to handle all the household waste generally is weak, larger percentage of the population dump refuse in either
authorized or unauthorized sites in their neighborhood which creates unsanitary condition [10].
Sanitation monitoring agency is saddled with the responsibility of ensuring effective disposal of wastes from time to time by the
residents. This study, however, observed that 28% response was given by the respondents to indicate ineffectiveness of sanitation
monitoring practice in the study area. This sanitation monitoring practice is saddled by the responsibility of government
agencies and private organizations. In relation to this finding, Asamoah revealed that lack of adequate sanitary facilities results in
indiscriminate dumping of refuse and defecation at places not designated for such purposes [17]. He suggested that big containers
should be provided at specific intervals and ensures the proper usage of the containers by the residents.
It is obvious that there are noticeable levels of ignorance among the people about the effect of the indiscriminate waste disposal. It
was observed that 20% response was given to indicate level of the ignorance among the people. To this, Abrokwah observed that
ignorance, negligence, lack of law to punish sanitary offenders and low level of technology in waste management are the major
causes of waste management problems [18]. He suggested that awareness should be created among residents to manage household
refuse and educate them on hazards that ill-disposed waste could pose to the environment.
Increased population is observed as the leading factor among others that induce indiscriminate waste disposal in the study area. For
instance, 30.4% response indicates highest percentage impact of this factor on waste generation. This is more so when considering
increase population visa-vis the consumption level of people that necessitate continuous generation of food waste per time. Afroz,
et al. submitted that rapid increase in the population and improvements in the quality of life, have aggravated the problem of waste
generation [19]. Therefore, municipal authorities will require huge capital investments and operational strategies for collection,
transportation and disposal of waste. Similarly, Sridher and Adeoye stated that the quantity of waste generation in various places
depends on population [1]. He argued further that population is the greatest determining factor of solid waste generation in any
part of the world.
Apart from flooding occurrence, much more is the pollution impact of the indiscriminate waste disposal. The injection of nuisance
that most times turns bad odor has affected this environment badly. This is evident in the percentage of responses (22%) given
by the people in the study area, who disclosed that wastes that not adequately managed often times resulted into irritation. This
finding has also been observed in the work of Michael, who argued that refuse and sewage cause pollution to the environment by
producing offensive odor to the environment when they decay [20]. He further explains that it also affects drainage, when solid
wastes are dumped in drainage channels in gutters; they block the flow of water leading to flooding. He maintained that sewage as
a product of solid waste serves as a breeding ground for pathogens which causes diseases to human and even death. Not only this,
refuse that heaps up can block gutter and other drainage channels thereby perpetuating flooding during rain storm.
Statistical Analysis on existing relationship among the waste parameters and their impacts within the study
area
The examined waste types necessitated the application of regression model in order to achieve the level of influence it has on the
study area. In this wise, the independent variables such as the types of generated and the dependent variable that include various
effects of wastes on the environment were subjected to statistical tests.
The waste parameters and effects were grouped as dependent (Variable 2) and independent (variable 1) while the coded values
were calculated with regression analysis (Table 4). The decision rule states that reject H0 if Fc > Fα at V1V2 of 95% confidence level.
The above statement shows that the calculated F value of 0.44 is significant at P= 0.05 (Table 5). This established that the waste
parameters have significant influence on the observed effects within the environment. The R value (0.393) indicates the level of the
existing relationship among the waste parameters and its impacts. This result implies that the waste parameters under consideration
are some of the major factors of the environmental problems in this area. The improper waste disposal would lead to reduction
in environmental quality of the study area. The correlation coefficient of 0.15 signifies that different waste types identified have
15% influence on the entire area while the remaining 85% could be attributed to other factors of environmental problem within
this area. The study has established that increased level of indiscriminate waste disposal would impede development and further
degenerate the entire area.
Collection of wastes is majorly the responsibility of both community members and the government body. The 48% response
recorded in Table 6 indicates the combined effort of the community and the government to get rid of waste from the environment.
This study essentially established that removal of waste is basically the function of all, as the community and the local government
understand this concept and therefore they both work hand in hand to ensure sanitation in the environment. Benneh, et al. in his
work argued that inefficient communal facility can lead to open defecation along beaches, drains and open space and the tendency
for fecal material to become intermixed with household refuse [11].
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