Solid Waste Disposal and Urban Flooding in Swali, Yenagoa Local Government Area, Bayelsa State, Nigeria

Solid waste disposal and urban flooding are increasingly occurring simultaneously in many Nigerian cities. This study examined the relationship between solid waste disposal practices and urban flooding in Swali, Yenagoa Local Government Area, Bayelsa State. A descriptive survey design was used. A structured four-point Likert questionnaire was administered to 320 household heads, and 300 copies were correctly filled and returned. Data were analysed with frequency, percentage, mean, median and mode, while Pearson correlation and simple linear regression tested three hypotheses at the 0.05 level. Findings show that open dumping (mean = 2.93), dumping in drains and gutters (mean = 2.79) and open burning (mean = 2.74) are common, while the use of private waste collectors (mean = 2.01) and availability of bins (mean = 1.85) are low. Residents agreed that refuse blocks drains (mean = 3.17) and that plastics are the main blocking materials (mean = 3.32). Flood-induced waste was linked to malaria (mean = 3.31), property loss (mean = 3.24) and polluted drinking water (mean = 3.19). Improper disposal was significantly related to flooding (r = 0.458, p < 0.001) and predicted its effects (B = 0.354, p < 0.001). The study recommends regular waste collection, routine drain clearing and strict enforcement of sanitation laws.