An Assessment of Electronic Waste Management Disposal in Onitsha Main Market: Towards Environmental Planning and Management
CHAPTER ONE
Objectives of the study
Main objective
The main objective of the study is to establish the factors that determine electronic waste disposal attitudes in Onitsha main market, Anambra state.
Specific objectives
Specifically, the study sought to:
- Examine the nature of electronic waste disposal in Onitsha.
- Determine factors that influence electronic waste disposal attitude on electronic waste disposal in Onitsha.
- Determine whether electronic waste disposal attitude differ among dwellers in Onitsha.
- Examine the respondents perception on electronic waste disposal in Onitsha
- To make recommendations for improving electronic waste disposal habit in Onitsha.
CHAPTER TWO
LITERATURE REVIEW
Concept of waste management
Generally solid waste management system can be classified into three categories which are municipal solid waste; industrial solid waste; and hazardous solid waste management.
Municipal solid waste management is an essential public service that benefits all urban residents. These are defined to include refuse from households, non-hazardous solid (not sludge or semisolid) waste from industrial and commercial establishments, refuse from institutions, (including non-pathogenic waste from hospitals), market waste, yard waste and street sweepings.
Sometimes, construction and demolition debris is also included. Industrial waste is generally referred to as a material from a manufacturing process that has no value to the manufacturer and that has to be disposed of in some manner.
With rising economic standards and with many imported consumer goods (particularly food items), Nigerians increasingly have access to packaged goods, often using plastics, which makes waste disposal difficult. The development and widespread use of new packaging substances such as plastics have improved the standards of living for millions, but they have also introduced new threats to the environment, as typified by the histories of dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT) and polychlorinated bi-phenyls (PCBs). Thus, industrial development also brings in its wake problems of environmental pollution and generates hazardous waste that often needs abatement.
A waste classified as hazardous by definition and convention usually has one or more of the following four characteristics: ignitability, corrosivity, reactivity and toxicity. These definitions show that a wide range of substances of different physical forms (liquid, gaseous, solid, or in solution) fall into the class of hazardous materials which may become waste. Hazardous wastes have been known to cause serious environmental and epidemiological disasters as a result of the lack of or inadequate handling and management of these wastes.
Although some developed countries have institutionalized waste management policies, in many African countries solid waste management policies either not existing or at best are fragmentary. For example, Cameroon with a population around 14 million of which half is living in towns does not have door to door solid waste collection programme. Thus, in many cases, solid waste disposal points are spontaneously created along the most accessible roads around the areas. Depending on the performance of the official collecting system, the disposal points are more or less important. Traditionally, organic waste is also used for feeding domestic animals and as fertilizer in gardening (composting). At times, fire is used to burn heaps of waste. This creates toxic smoke, which is detrimental to health (Richard et. al., 2002).
Despite the increase in awareness, waste management system in many third world cities is seriously challenged (Tevera, Conyers and Matovu, 2002).In the late 1990s, it was estimated that each person in the world generated 200 kg of solid waste per year (UNCHS, 2001) and this was expected to increase with the growth in population. It is estimated that in 2006 the total amount of municipal solid waste generated globally reached 2.02 billion tonnes, representing a 7% annual increase since 2003. It is further estimated that between 2007 and 2011, global generation of municipal waste would have risen by 37.3%, equivalent to roughly 8% increase per year. Based on reports from its participants, The Basel Convention estimated that about 318 and 338 million tonnes of hazardous and other wastes were generated for 2000 and 2001 respectively (Global Waste Management Market Report, 2007).
Regional studies revealed varying patterns among developed and developing areas. For instance Mukuka and Masiye (2002), reported increase in population growth and waste produced in Lusaka, Zambia. A more alarming example was also found in Indonesia‘s region of Jabotatek, which includes Jakarta, where population growth was fast and waste generation rate was estimated at 50,000 m3/day or 7 million tonnes per year (Otten, 1997).
CHAPTER THREE
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
Research design
The study employs quantitative descriptive research design to examine electronic waste management disposal in Onitsha main market.
Area of study
Onitsha
Onitsha is a city located on the eastern bank of the Niger River, in Nigeria’s Anambra State. A metropolitan city, Onitsha is known for its river port and as an economic hub for commerce, industry, and education. It hosts the Onitsha Main Market, the largest market in Africa in terms of geographical size and volume of goods.
In the 2006 Nigerian census, Onitsha had an estimated city proper population of over quarter a million people, and, as of 2016, had an estimated urban population of 7,425,000. The indigenous people of Onitsha are Igbo and speak the Igbo language. The Onitsha people are referred to as Ndi Onicha.
Onitsha main market
Onitsha Market is the largest market in Africa based on geographical size and volume of goods. It is based in the city of Onitsha, the commercial capital of Anambra State in southeastern Nigeria and governed by one of the most revered traders associations on the continent, the Onitsha Market Traders Association (OMATA). Most of the major import merchants from Eastern Nigeria have their head offices within the market. The average traders in the area are known to bring in at least six consignments of 40 tonnes (40-feet containers) of goods annually. Some of the major importers do more than 200 consignments of 40 tonnes of goods per year. These include jewelry, clothing, household, industrial and office equipment.
It is bounded by the River Niger to the West and Fegge through Osumaru Road from the East. The market is secured by the Onitsha Main Market Vigilante Services working under the auspices of the Nigeria Police Force. The market can rightfully be described as the commercial power house of West Africa. It is massively patronized by merchants in the ECOWAS sub-region including Accra, Abidjan, Douala, Niamey and Cotonou and various other parts of the continent, to mention a few.
CHAPTER FOUR
DATA PRESENTATION, ANALYSIS AND DISCUSSION OF FINDINGS
This Chapter presents and discusses the result of analysis of the data derived from the survey of questionnaire. Four hundred questionnaires (400) were administered but three hundred and sixty five (365) was recovered and used for data presentation, analysis and findings.
Socio-economic characteristics of the respondents
Table 4.1 and figure 4.1 below show that there are 211 male representing 57.8% respondents and 150 female representing 41.1% respondents, among the total 365 responses. This depicts more male than female among the responses.
CHAPTER FIVE
SUMMARY OF FINDINGS, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION
Summary of findings
It was found that bad disposal attitudes are prevalent in Onitsha main market. This is seen why most of the households dump their solid waste in places that is illegal and unhealthy. This in discriminate disposal is high. Table 4.12 revealed that out of 365 interviewed only 132 respondents said that they dispose their solid waste in dump stand, while the remaining 233 respondents said they dispose their household solid waste, nearby bush, drainage channel, along the road, disposing the solid waste in the stream, disposing solid waste in the farmland and burning in Onitsha. This outcome was also confirmed by the result of the first hypothesis It was also observed that there was various reasons why household dispose their solid waste indiscriminate, this is explained in table 4.31. The 60 percent said they have no dump stands close to their house, while 39 percent specified that they have no dump stand in their neighborhoods which signified that the unavailability of dump stand is the cause of the indiscriminate disposal of solid waste. This outcome was also confirmed by the second hypothesis.
Furthermore, it was also discovered that dumpsters are emptied mostly weekly. Table 4.33 showed that 54.1 of the dumpsters are emptied weekly, 17 percent are emptied daily, 17% are emptied monthly and 12% are emptied occasionally. This discourages the households from disposing there solid waste in the dumpsters rather they prefer to dump it in other places.
Moreover the result showed that the determinants of electronic waste disposal attitudes differed significantly among household.
Conclusion
The aim of this study was to empirically establish electronic waste management disposal in Onitsha main market, towards environmental planning and management. The result of the first hypotheses showed that the nature of electronic waste disposal can be significantly identified and categorized into five factors: These include improper disposal of on the road system, improper disposal of solid waste in the water, improper disposal of waste near the dump site, improper disposal of waste in water channels and disposal of solid waste for benefit factors. The result of the second hypotheses showed that factors that influence electronic waste disposal can be significantly identified and categorized into eight factors; poor provision of solid waste management facilities, poor accessibility to the dumpsite, social factors, moral of household, economics factor, weather/health that influences electronic waste disposal attitudes, socio-Gender factor and health problem. The third hypotheses showed that factors that influence electronic waste disposal attitudes do not differ significantly among households. The fourth hypotheses showed that residents’ perception on electronic waste disposal system. This study recommend among other things public enlightenment on the need for proper disposal of refuse by households.
Recommendations
The study identified poor electronic waste disposal attitudes of the household as major impediment to efficient solid waste management system in Onitsha main market. Consequently, sanitary condition in the city has worsened, leading to indiscriminate disposal of refuse that have formed mountains in many parts of the city. Based on the findings, the following recommendations are hereby made.
Public enlightenment
Bad disposal attitudes are found among those residents that are ignorant of health and environmental effects caused by improper disposal of refuse. There should be enlightenment campaign by health workers and environmentalists on the need for the residents to dispose their waste properly.
Provision of facilities
Waste management agencies such as Anambra State Waste Management Agencies (ANSEPA) should in collaboration with the government provide more dumpsters in Onitsha main market. Provision of dumpsters will reduce the rate of indiscriminate electronic waste disposal among households.
Prompt and proper implementation of Onitsha main market
MASTER PLAN
Onitsha master plan has remained unimplemented since its preparation by UN Habitat in collaboration with Anambra State Government. If the plan was implemented it will help to reduce the uncontrolled development that takes place in the commercial city, as well as minimize the pressure that is being experienced on the available waste disposal facilities in various neighborhoods. This is because there are more users to the existing waste disposal and management facilities.
Retraining of waste agencies regulatory staff
The Regulatory personals from Anambra State Environmental Protection Agency (ANSEPA) should be retrained to meet up with the current trend in the regulation of electronic waste disposal. Most of their staffs are seen as touts, this is why their activities should be checked by their superiors and government officials to reduce their unwholesome acts such as extolsion and overcharge on the law offenders and residents. The workers should be trained to focus on effective management of electronic waste disposal in Onitsha main market.
Ensuring prompt evacuation of waste
The waste management agencies in the area should ensure prompt evacuation of solid waste. This because when the dumps stand stays long unevacuated, it will get filled up and smells. As a result of this, residents will dump their waste indiscriminately and away from the dump stand.
Recycling of electronic waste
The waste management agencies and household should be enlightened on the need and benefits that they can get from separation of electronic wastes for recycling. This is because recycling can create employment and reduce the volume of waste for disposal among households.
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