Refuse disposal and its attendant health hazards: A case study of Agbor, Delta state of Nigeria

Abstract

The problem of solid waste (refuse) disposal and its attendant health hazards in Ika south local government area (Agbor) of Delta state, Nigeria is reported. Questionnaire was the data collection instrument used. The questionnaire focused on the effect of untreated refuse dumps on the health of the people, the success recorded so far with our present day refuse disposal methods and the level of the problem of refuse disposal within the locality. In all, two hundred questionnaires were distributed.
Respondent’s frequency was analyzed using the student t-test at 0.05 level of significance. 1350 respondents, representing a mean value of 135.0 of the total respondent frequency of 2000, agreed that improper dumping of refuse constitutes a health hazard, while 650 respondents (mean value of 65.0) disagreed, indicating a significant difference between the respondents at 0.05 level of probability. 1100 respondents (mean value of 110.0) also agreed that our present day refuse disposal methods have failed us while 900 (mean value of 90.0) disagreed. Again 1432 respondents believe that the problem of poor refuse disposal has reached an alarming rate while 568 respondents believe otherwise. This paper
therefore proposes more effective and better funded solid waste management, and enlightenment campaigns mounted by the statutory council authority to sensitize the people on safe health practices.