Abstract:
Solid wastes generally constitute man’s unwanted materials
that need to be collected and properly managed. It consists of
substances, materials and objects considered as worthless or
defective and of no or less value for human economic
productive activities at any point in time. Apart from
constituting an eye sore to urban environment, it constitutes
health hazards and threatens the health of man and animals in
the city. This research attempts an assessment of Waste
generation, collection and management pattern in Jos city of
Plateau State, Nigeria. The study made use of primary data
obtained from 335 questionnaires administered, out of which
280 were returned and analyzed using descriptive statistics.
Results obtained show that 87.5% of landuse type responsible
for waste generation is residential, 42% of the waste generated
in the area is ashes. 76% of the waste generated in Jos is from
domestic activity with 32.8% being disposed in open space.
Majority of waste containers used were metals (33%). A focus
group discussion (FGD) gave more and detailed explanation on
the prospects and limitations on solid waste generation,
collection and management in Jos city of Plateau state. To this
end, there is the need to overhaul both materials and methods of
municipal solid waste collection and disposal in Jos city of
Plateau State, Nigeria.
