Solid Waste Disposal and Management Problems in Ramat Polytechnic Maiduguri, North-East Nigeria

Abstract

This study examined the problems of solid waste disposal and management in Ramat Polytechnic Maiduguri, Borno state, North-east Nigeria. A set of questionnaire was administered on a sample of two hundred and sixty (260) respondents within the study area. The data collected were analyzed descriptively. The results obtained indicated that food wastes, polythene bags and polystyrene food packs constituted the largest component of wastes in the Hostel area. Other forms of solid wastes generated in other locations chosen for the study were paper waste, plastic/rubber bottles, leaves and metal cans. The study revealed that 44.83% of the respondents store their wastes in waste bins/ receptacles while 38.36% of the respondents practiced open surface dumping. The results showed that solid waste receptacles provided by the institution were inadequate. The findings also revealed that solid wastes were regularly collected by the polytechnic sanitation workers. Generally, 56.47% of the respondents were satisfied with the performance of the polytechnic sanitation unit in managing solid wastes in the institution. Inadequate personnel, lack of solid waste vehicles and funding were identified as the major challenges in solid waste management. The study recommended among others that the polytechnic administration should recruit more personnel, procure solid waste vehicles and adequately provide funds to the sanitation unit for effective management of solid waste. Furthermore, the institution should embark on awareness campaigns on environmentally friendly approaches to solid waste disposal to check indiscriminate dumping of solid wastes within the polytechnic premises.