ENVIRONMENTAL CHALLENGES RESULTING FROM INDISCRIMINATE SOLID WASTE DISPOSAL IN AKURE METROPOLIS, ONDO STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract The economic implication of poor and inappropriate waste disposal on man and his immediate environment has become an issue of serious concern at local, national and international levels. Hence, this study examines the environmental challenges resulting from indiscriminate solid waste disposal in Akure Metropolis, Ondo State, Nigeria. The study employed a descriptive research design while the population for the study comprises residents of Akure South Local Government Area with a sample size of two hundred (200) respondents randomly selected from different sections of the study area. Data collection was done through the administration of structured, self- constructed questionnaire designed on a four-point likert scale type while the data collected were analyzed through descriptive statistics. Findings revealed that environmental waste are generated from residential homes, places of worship, commercial centers among others; waste generated are in different forms, some of the environmental wastes are solids such as metals, polythene materials, paper, wood and agricultural waste which cannot easily decompose; less than 10% percentage of residents of study area dispose their waste properly using government approved waste bins; there is shortage of both environmental waste disposal facilities and personnel managing the services, as well as lack of commitment by some of the personnel. In view of the responses from the respondents, it was concluded that management of waste in the study area is a challenge that needs urgent attention. Therefore, based on the findings of the study, it was recommended that. more effort should be directed towards public enlightenment on dangers of inappropriate environmental waste disposal; government should means of appropriate waste disposal available to the residents; additional waste disposal/management personnel must be employed; there must be adequate monitoring of the agency in charge of waste management to ensure its effectiveness and government must ensure that environmental waste laws and its penalty is fully enforced. Keywords: Environmental waste, epidemics, environmental laws, waste disposal.