PATTERNS OF SOLID WASTE GENERATION AND DISPOSAL IN AKOKO SOUTHWEST LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA, ONDO STATE

This study appraised the patterns of generation and disposal of solid wastes in Nigeria with particular reference to Akoko Southwest Local Government Area, Ondo State. It affirmed the incidence of generation of tremendous quantity of solid wastes in Nigeria, which are often disposed indiscriminately. Three hundred and eighteen (318) households were selected from the population of 77,630 people and questionnaire administered to heads of households only. The questionnaire obtained information on the pattern of solid waste generation and disposal. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to determine whether or not there is significant difference between the towns, households characteristics (educational background, occupation, house type, type of waste generated) and solid waste generation. Also, correlation analysis was utilised to demonstrate the relationship between household characteristics and environmental contamination. The waste disposal pattern of the respondents varied among households, about 47% of the population used waste bin to collect household waste and disposed in open dumpsites, 22% burnt their waste while the remaining 31% indulged in open-air dumping method. However, the practice of open-air dumping is more (55%) in Oka than (22%) in Oba. The mean waste generated in kg per household per day in the three towns ranged from 1.28±0.22kg in Oba to 1.56±0.27kg in Oka. However, the patterns of waste generation in these towns (Oka, Oba, and Akungba) were significantly (p< 0.001) different.