Municipal Solid Waste Characterization and its Associated Vector-borne Diseases within the Vicinity of Dumpsite and Controlled Site

Abstract

This paper presents the composition of municipal solid waste in Uyo and vector-borne diseases associated with municipal solid waste within the vicinity of the dumping site (less than 1 km) and controlled site (above 1 km). The compositions of municipal solid waste were determined using samples obtained from Uyo village road waste dumping site. The dumpsite receives solid waste from all the communities in Uyo local government area. In order to assess the public perception of vector-borne diseases associated with municipal solid waste, sample survey method was adopted, which involved the administration of 500 questionnaires of which 250 were administered to the residents who lived less than 1 km from the boundary of the waste dumpsite and 250 questionnaires were also administered to the communities living further away. The compositions and percentages constituent by mass revealed the following: Organic waste component constitute 53.86% and inorganic constituted a waste portion of 46.14%. For vector-borne diseases associated with municipal solid waste, the results indicated that 70.8% of the respondents attended tertiary education (OND/NCE and above), so the issues associated with municipal solid waste may not be strange to them. A significant number of respondents are aware that the origin of municipal solid waste is residential, commercial, industrial, market, street sweeping and industrial sectors. Respondents are more aware that rats, flies, mosquitoes, birds, pigs and cockroaches are vector-borne diseases associated with municipal solid waste. The findings in this study will be useful in a comprehensive solid waste management program which encompasses sweeping, storage, collection and disposal of solid waste. However, the waste can be best treated if any of these techniques are utilized composting, gasification and energy recovery in future for further reduction of waste.