ENVIRONMENTAL AUDIT OF A LANDFILL REFUSE DUMP SITE AND MORBIDITY SURVEY OF UGBOR COMMUNITY, BENIN CITY, EDO STATE

ENVIRONMENTAL AUDIT OF A LANDFILL REFUSE DUMP SITE AND MORBIDITY SURVEY OF UGBOR COMMUNITY, BENIN CITY, EDO STATE

Abstract

OBJECTIVES
The specific objectives of this study were; to perform an environmental audit of open refuse dumping at the Ugbor dump site, describe the physical, demographic, social and economic characteristics of the study area, characterize waste by direct observation at the Ugbor dump site and assess the morbidity pattern of residents close to the dump site.
METHODOLOGY
A descriptive, cross sectional comparative study design. Total of 626 households were involved in this study, 316 households located within 2.5km radius of the Ugbor refuse dump site and 310 households located at a distance of 2.5 – 5.0km radius of the refuse dump site. Data was collected via Key informant interviews, focus group discussion, surveys and checklists. Semi-structured interviewer administered questionnaires were applied to eligible respondents in each household selected via a systematic sampling technique. Data was analyzed electronically using the Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS) and PEPI with statistical significance set at p<0.05.
RESULT
About 36.7% of the respondents reside within 2.5 kilometers of the refuse dump site with a total dependency ratio of 0.41. Majority of respondents in close proximity to the refuse dump site (54.1%) store household waste in pits within the compound, 26.3% dispose their refuse in a pit outside the house after which it is set ablaze while 4.1% of
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the people dispose their refuse in nearby bushes and 67.7% of the respondents were willing to pay for the closure of the Ugbor refuse dump site. Adult residents in close proximity to the dump site (<2.5km) suffered more from cough and catarrh (z= 10.41; p=0.00) and skin rash (z=6.12; p=0.00). Over 17% of the respondents have had previous hospital admission, 52.6% of whom were in close proximity to the dump site with malaria accounting for the highest number of cases in both SITE 1 and SITE 2 (z=1.41; p=0.160). Environmental audit revealed that Ugbor refuse dump site is out of compliance with the guidelines of the Federal Environmental Protection Agency of Nigeria.
CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION
Households in this study exhibited poor refuse collection and disposal methods especially in areas within close proximity of the Ugbor refuse dump site. Although the Local Government is vested with the responsibility of Municipal waste management, it has become handicapped by a weak organizational structure and poor funding. 57.4% of the waste in the refuse dump site is biodegradable mostly in the form of vegetables and food materials while 45.3% are recyclable.
The dump site now poses public health risks and aesthetic burden to the citizens it meant to serve. There should be legal backing to the closure of the dump site with punishment for offenders. Oredo Local Government should seek the advice of experts when a new landfill site is to be constructed.Environmental Audit of a Landfill Refuse Dump Site and Morbidity Survey of Ugbor Community, Benin City, Edo State.

ENVIRONMENTAL AUDIT OF A LANDFILL REFUSE DUMP SITE AND MORBIDITY SURVEY OF UGBOR COMMUNITY, BENIN CITY, EDO STATE

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