Assessment of solid waste management in Ota, Ogun State, Nigeria

Abstract

The rapid rate of population growth and urbanization has impacted the management of municipal solid wastes (MSW) and is increasingly becoming a major concern in many cities in developing countries. Insufficient area coverage for wastes collection, processing system, and unsuitable disposal all appear to be the causal factors. This paper discussed the current situation of solid waste management in Ota municipality as well as the challenges and associated problems. Structured questionnaires, interviews and on-site observations were used for data generation, and subsequently analyzed using descriptive statistics. Results indicated that 28.6% of the respondents incinerate their wastes, while 27.6% of the respondents dispose theirs to public waste bins. About 11.4% deposit their wastes by the road side, while 6.4% dump their wastes in drainages and water bodies. Most respondents incinerate their wastes which would impact negatively on the ozone layer. Results also indicated that 54.3% of the respondents have their wastes disposed regularly, while 66% do not sort their wastes which make them difficult to manage. The city's single dump site was visited in order to have a better understanding of the existing solid waste management measures in place. Other illegal waste dumps in the town were also visited. In order to address the difficulties of solid waste management in the municipality, it is recommended that the state government engage additional Private Service Provider (PSP) operatives to assist with waste collection and transportation, provide suitable facilities, machinery, and equipment, and launch a public awareness campaign