Assessment of the Impact of Solid Waste Management in Densely Populated Areas of the Kaduna Metropolis, Nigeria

Abstract

The waste and its management have been a persistent issue in densely populated areas of Nigeria despite the government's efforts to address the menace. The study was motivated by the desire to enhance our understanding of the impact of waste and its management in a metropolitan town. The study investigated the causes, impacts, techniques, and challenges of solid waste management in the Kaduna metropolis. Data was sourced using the survey method. from the residents and officers of the Kaduna State Environmental Agency. A multistage sampling technique was applied where by a structured questionnaire and interview guide were used for the data collection. A descriptive analysis was used to compute the results. Findings from the study reveal that households (61.9%), and petty traders (30%) are the main sources of solid waste in the study area. Residents (56.9%) are not satisfied with services rendered by the institutions that regulate waste due to a lack of coordination (40.6%) and political influence (27.2%). The most common challenge of waste management faced by residents is the lack of formal waste collectors within their proximity. Therefore, open dumping (46.9%), waterways (10.6%), and other places (25.6%) are used to dispose of waste in the study area. From these findings, it was recommended there should be wide publicity and awareness by the national orientation agency on environmental laws, and the dangers of violating them, in addition, there should be a well-coordinated policy implementation plan properly spelt out, identifying the roles and responsibility of both formal (public and private) and in formal waste managers.

Keywords: Impact, Causes, Techniques, Challenges, Waste, Management.