PATTERN AND PROCESS OF WASTE DISPOSAL IN AWKA METROPOLIS

ABSTRACT
Pattern and process of waste disposal in Awka metropolis undergoes both natural and human activities. This has led to the process of waste disposal in Awka. The pattern and process of waste disposal studies how to evaluate the level of people, and how to control the process of waste disposal. Questionnaire and oral interview were used to gather information for this study. 35 of the respondents strongly disagree that encouraging the public to reuse any purchase products has help to keep the environment cleaner and secure for human health, while 30 of the respondents believes that public enlightenment on waste reduction have gone a long way in keeping the environment clean and safe for living. 35 of the respondents affirms that the use of public waste receptacles has been very effective in Awka metropolis, while 15 of the respondents are against the view that landfill system is an effective method of disposing wastes. 40 of the respondents agreed that ASWAMA do organize environmental programmes as a tool for creating awareness on solid waste management in Awka metropolis, while 20 of them also support the fact that the government gives out information on waste management through media houses. From the result, most of the respondents indicated that government do not encourage the public to reuse any purchased materials and products in order to curb wastes in the environment, so to create a healthy and secure the environment.

Background to the Study
Human population size is one of the most problematic environmental concerns. United Nations (2006) reiterates that population size directly affects other environmental issues, like pollution and resource depletion. Human interactions with the environment are mediated through society; human environmental impact is thus, a social question. The social dimension becomes especially clear when population issues are approached using term such as ecology. The huge increases in size of the human population have resulted in a substantial degradation of environmental conditions. The changes have largely been characterized by deforestation, unsustainable harvesting of potentially renewable resources such as wild animals and plants that are of economic importance, rapid mining of non-renewable resources for instance metals and fossil fuels, pollution, and other ecological damages.Sherbinin, et al (2007)at the same time human populations have been increasing, there has also been a great intensification of per-capital environmental impacts. This has occurred through the direct and indirect consequences of increased resource use to sustain individual being and their social and technological infrastructure. Solid waste generation is undoubtedly related to anthropogenic activities and culture.
Hashmi, et al(2007) The management of solid waste becomes more challenging in densely populated heterogeneous cultures in developing countries.

Generation of solid waste in urban areas is an obvious result of human activities. Natural growth of population, reclassifications of habitation and migration trends are common in urban populations. Urbanization is now becoming a global phenomenon, but its ramifications are more pronounced in developing countries. This urbanization, economic growth, and improved living standards in cities led to an increase in quantity and complexity of generated waste Corburn, (‎2006). This increase induces unhygienic conditions on the surface which affected the underground water quality to an alarming extent. The concern about waste is not only because of the rising quantities but also principally because of a derisory management system. Evidently, from aforementioned issues of urban population and waste generation, the world has experienced unprecedented urban growth in recent decades. In 2008, for the first time, the world’s population was evenly split between urban and rural areas. More developed nations were about 74% urban, while 44% of residents of less developed countries lived in urban areas. However, urbanization is occurring rapidly in many less developed countries. It is expected that 70% of the world population will be urban by 2050, and that most urban growth will occur in less developed countries United Nations,(2007). The multiplier effect of increase in urbanization is a product of population growth and resultant of proliferation of wastes in the nooks and crannies of urban cities. Thus, Oluwande (2007) observes that urbanization affects land-use, when not controlled causes the emergence of illegal structures. This type of illegal and unplanned residential areas endangered waste collection services and eventually enhances indiscriminate dumping of domestic waste generated.

1.2 Statement of the Problem
As the global population grew, and urban and industrial development accelerated, the opportunities to dispose of materials, including biodegradable ones, diminished while the quantities and nuisance value of wastes increased. Society now has large volumes of waste to deal with; in the United Kingdom, for example, more than 500 million tons of wastes are generated each year, of which some 30 percent are mineral wastes, 20 percent industrial, 40 percent agricultural and 5 percent municipal.The issues of waste collection, disposal and dumpsites management are of immediate importance particularly when this is combined with rapid urbanization. Oluwande(2007) states that between one-third and one-half of the solid wastes generated within most cities in Nigeria are not collected. They usually end up as illegal dumps on streets, open spaces and waste land. This buttresses Okonkwo, (2014) claims that indiscriminate disposal of wastes in Awka Metropolis is a factor influencing susceptibility of residents to floods annually. Although Anambra State Government has various agencies and institutions for city planning and development control. Some of them include; Anambra State Ministry of Urban Development, Greater Awka Planning Authority yet there is indiscriminate disposal of solid waste on streets in the city.