Toxicity Characteristics Leaching Procedure of Wastes dumped in some part of Federal Capital Territory Abuja, North Central Nigeria

Abstract

The solid wastes in some waste disposal facilities within Federal Capital Territory, Abuja Nigeria were assessed. They were assessed to know whether they are characteristically hazardous to the environment where they are dumped. The procedure became necessary because the solid wastes in the study are known not to be sorted before disposal. Sorting is needed to separate the hazardous components from non-hazardous components of the solid wastes before they are disposed. The assessment was done in accordance with Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, (RCRA, 1976) of United State Environmental Protection Agency using Toxicity Characteristics Leaching procedure. The procedure shows that the Chromium (Cr) ranges from 3.03mg/L to 11mg/L across the investigated dumpsites, Lead (Pb) ranges from 1.58mg/L to 47.6mg/L across the investigated dumpsites and Cadmium (Cd) ranges from 0.169mg/L to 19.2mg/L across the investigated dumpsites. It can be deduced from the results that the wastes in the investigated dump facilities are characteristically hazardous because the concentration of RCRA metals (Pb, Cr and Cd) are above the USEPA allowable limits.