PATTERN AND PROCESS OF WASTE DISPOSAL IN AWKA METROPOLIS

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1     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.

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