Assessment of Solid Waste Management Strategies in Elele Community, Ikwerre Local Government Area, Rivers State, Nigeria

Abstract

Background: Solid waste management has become the greatest problem facing many semi-urban and rural communities like Elele in Nigeria, and is fast becoming a serious health concern. The study therefore was carried out to assess the strategies developed by Elele community in solid waste management and recommend proper solid waste disposal strategies. Materials and Methods: The study adopted survey research method using data collected through self-administered questionnaire which were analyzed to generate data for the study. Results and Discussions: The result from the field research showed that majority 96.19% of the respondents have heard of solid waste, and (34.83%) of the solid wastes generated in Elele community was Garbage, composed majorly of food waste which were compostable to make local manure; 29.62% refuse waste made up of papers, plastics, cans and glass were generated. The result revealed also that dumping in open spaces (69.82%) was the most prominent disposal method practiced in Elele and only 1.09% of the population practice Land fill (Burial method). There was inadequate provision of closed top compacting trucks (29.03%) to handle refuse collection with protective measure in mind. The respondent’s acknowledgement on the indiscriminate disposal of Solid waste in Elele was high (96.67%) and listed factors responsible like: lack of awareness on accepted methods of solid waste disposal (38.55%), Lack of Community Participation (16.23%), and Financial inadequacy of government (l4.78%). Conclusion: The study revealed that dumping in open spaces (69.82%) was the most prominent disposal method, while the least was land fill practice (Burial method) 1.09%. The study recommends the participation of the Local Governments in enhancing and building the capacities of local communities to identify and promote proper waste disposal and management. In addition, develop strategies that minimize waste at household and community levels through re-use like in manure, or recycling in their vicinity.