Assessment of the Environmental Impact and Awareness of Solid Waste Disposal in Jos Urban Area, Plateau State, Nigeria

Rapid development and population growth have led to a surge in waste generation. Noncompliance with best practices for environmental waste disposal has led to escalating environmental impacts; however, this practice has drastic public health risks in the Jos urban area. Purposive sampling was used in selecting the study areas. Random sampling method was used in selecting 600 respondents. One hundred questionnaires were administered to each of the six settlements selected. Both descriptive and five-point Likert statistics were used to analyze the data. The results indicated that females are more engaged in environmental management than their male counterparts. There is inadequate awareness and education about waste disposal among respondents, distance to the point of disposal and inadequate disposal facilities are major factors influencing proper waste disposal. In addition, the findings indicated that respondents are knowledgeable that poor solid waste disposal creates a dirty environment thus, leads to pest infestations and spread diseases among communities. The results showed that respondents are aware that bad and offensive odors pollute the environment hence affect their health. It is recommended that communities should be educated on proper waste disposal and its health impact. Environmental monitoring by Ministries of Health and the Environment should be conducted for physicochemical analysis of underground- water which are closer to solid waste disposal sites to detect evidence of contamination. Monthly sanitation exercise should be reintroduced. Adequate containers within communities at short intervals should be provided.