Dumping on Waters: The Lacunae in Waste Management in the Niger Delta, Nigeria

Abstract

The need to provide additional information towards adopting a well-developed and standard waste management scheme in Yenagoa Metropolis prompted this study. It was based on waste source, transferring process and stakeholders, location and elevation, ecological sensitivity, risk factors and general people’s wellbeing. The operation of waste stakeholders and their activities were recorded on daily basis through Mass-Volume Analysis method using weighbridge scale for twelve (12) months (January–December 2021); Student-T test (t) and Two-Ways ANOVA were used to analyzed results. Results confirmed that, Etelebou is a government approved open-air-dumpsite for both liquid and solid waste; the Brikari Nig. Ltd. Company is transferring 50% solid waste while the Patico and Saturday (21.8% each) merged top commuters transferring liquid waste to the central Dumpsite. In general, the open-air-dumpsite is receiving an average 546.830 tonnes of waste annually consisting of 91% solid and 9% liquid with less than 10% material recovery for reuse and recycling. At 5% (ά=0.05%) interval, the difference between weekly waste stream and wastes stakeholders (commuters) is insignificant (0.324<2.57); so also waste stream per monthly summary (0.32<2.14). We therefore discouraged the current dumping operation at Etelebou due to its elevation (5 meters below sea level), proximity to natural drainage with a porous geological structure that posses’ ecological health risk on flora and fauna. Therefore, the study advises alternative disposal site and recommends controlled incineration, compositing and waste recycling for best practice in low regions like the Niger Delta of Nigeria.