Journal of Physical Science and Environmental Studies

Research Paper|Published June, 2025|Vol. 11(1):6-11.

https://doi.org/10.36630/jpses_24011

 

Influences of Refuse Management Activity on People and Their Surroundings in Some Selected Urban Areas of Owerri, Imo State, Nigeria, West Africa

 

Emeonye Okechukwu

 

Department of Urban and Regional Planning, Federal University of Technology Owerri.

 

ABSTRACT

Refuse production has recently surged, leading to the accumulation of water along major important streets and roads in many  Nigerian cities, as well as in other secondary and tertiary cities around the world. The responsibility of effectively managing this environmental challenge forms the central concern of the study.  The research aimed to gather data to identify the key sources and types of refuse,  their modes of disposal, and the associated ecological and environmental health implications. Data were collected using a questionnaire and structured interviews administered to  826 individuals in Owerri, and two urban communities- Amakohia and Orji- both in  Owerri North Local Government Area. The data suggest that the primary components of trash, as putrescible, are obtained from commercial areas such as outdoor markets and shops. The principal administrative strategy is open refuse dumping. The vast majority of the respondents were aware of the detrimental effects of inefficient urban refuse management on public and environmental health. However, the administrative measures currently in place were found to be ineffective. Therefore,  there is a pressing need to develop and promote a more effective waste management strategy.

Key Words: Environmental health, refuse administration, biodegradable refuse, environmental consequence, refuse transformation.

 

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