Selection of Suitable Site for Solid Waste Disposal at Okigwe LGA, Imo State Using Remote Sensing and Geospatial Information System (GIS) Technique

Filed in Articles by on July 25, 2022

Selection of Suitable Site for Solid Waste Disposal at Okigwe LGA, Imo State Using Remote Sensing and Geospatial Information System (GIS) Technique.

ABSTRACT

Solid wastes disposal has become a serious and challenging problem in major urban centers in Nigeria including Okigwe. The common sights of refuse that accumulates along the roads and market squares that make the road impassable to traffic are examples of the problem.

Waste disposal problem often results from the inability of government and its agencies to match the collection and disposal with the generation of waste. Sometimes too, the problem could be due to lack of suitable disposal sites as against the arbitrary and illegal dumps with their attendant health hazards.

Different techniques have been used to select solid waste disposal sites in various parts of the world. The aim of this study is to carried out the selection of suitable wastes disposal sites in Okigwe and its environs of Imo State using a high-resolution satellite imagery and GIS technique.

When remotely sensed data are used to generate a map, it assumes a new form, encourages new uses, new users and cartographic visualization can be possible. The study specified data acquired such as SPOT 5 (5m) satellite imagery of Okigwe, the 10m DEM and the Imo State Administrative map.

The result of the analysis showed that, two locations namely Ezinachi and Ugwuaka with a total area of 601.847 hectares and 4.8kms away from residential area are suitable for the location of disposal sites. They satisfied the criteria.

Solid wastes disposal sites can be selected and established successfully using remote sensing data and GIS techniques. This will help planners and decision-makers in land use and budgeting of solid waste disposal and management.

The study recommends that remotely sensed data and GIS technology be used to establish suitable disposal site rather than choosing disposal sites arbitrarily.

INTRODUCTION

Waste is an issue that affects us all, and the environment is heading towards a potential risk due to unsustainable waste disposal management.

Selecting and managing appropriate solid waste dumping site is one of the challenging problems in developing countries due to inadequate proper solid waste management system and the type of waste thrown into the environment.

It is a sensitive issue which concerns about serious environmental problems in today’s world. The present situation of direct dumping of the waste without proper inspection and separation leaves a serious impact of environmental pollution causing tremendous growth health-related problems.

Also, the uncontrolled refused disposal has always been associated with serious health hazards (United Nations Centre for Human Settlement (Habitat)., 1989). For instance, environmental pollution affects women more than any other group especially as regards to health and sanitation.

The effects of radiation and chemicals on women have led to infertility, miscarriage, neonatal deaths, malformation and growth retardation. Worse still, this chemical now appears in women breast milk (Agoawaike, 1992).

Furthermore, the solid waste materials in both rural and urban areas are the natural outcome of human activities. However, more predominant in cities and municipalities owing to intense activities by humans and machineries.

The solution, therefore, is the implementation of a functional and sustainable framework for proper disposal. The rapid growth of population and urbanization decreases the non-renewable resources and disposal of waste matter and toxic waste haphazardly are some of the major environmental issues posing threats to the existence of human society.

REFERENCES

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