Nature and Management of Solid Waste in Karu Nasarawa State, Nigeria
Anyanwu, N. C.; Dr. Adefila, J. O.

Abstract
Solid waste management is a major problem that has reached alarming proportions requiring drastic measures. The increasing difficultyin managing wastes in Nigeria has become one of the most intractable environmental issues. There is unprecedented increase in the volume of waste generated by urban residents; changes in the quality of waste composition and the disposal methods are not improved upon. The cardinal objective of the study is to examine the nature and management of solid waste in Karu, Nasarawa State, Nigeria. Both primary and secondary sources of data collectionwere adopted. A field survey was undertaken to determine the types, volume, composition and methods of managing solid waste in Karu urban areas. The volume of waste was measured from three selected households in the four residential areas namely Mararaba, Masaka, Ado and New Karu. Two hundred and thirty (230) sampleswere selected using combined systematic, randomization and stratified sampling techniques among the households as well as the staff of the municipal waste management agency. The study employed descriptive statistics to analyse the data. The analysis indicates that solid wastes are generated from households in Mararba (28.8%),Masaka (22.9%), New Karu (25.7%), and Ado (22.6%)in that order. The methods of solid waste disposal range from direct dumping (43.6%), open burning (23.0%), dust bins (32.4%), composting and dumping in drains accounted for (1.0%) in the study area.On the basis of the results, it was recommended among other things that government should provide basic facilities;equipment, adequate funds,and qualified personnel to manage the various wastes generated and increase public awareness through enlightenment campaign against the danger of indiscriminate dumping of wastes as they affect human health. Moreover, appropriate policy should be put in place to encourage partnership with private individual corporations with a bid to ensuring quality of the environment.

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