Review on effect of dumpsite leachate to the environmental and public health implication

Over the years, there has been an increase in the rate of environmental pollution due to improper disposal and management of dumpsite waste. Leachate being generated as a result of the moisture associated within dumpsite, amount to contain various microbial pathogens and hazardous substance like cyanides, heavy metals and other chemicals acquired from the dumpsite. This can serve as a risk factor to the environment and public health when there is leachate migration. The migration of leachate into the environment potentially results in the contamination of soil, food products, animals, ground water, surface water and the air environment’ which in turn affect the health of human especially those who consumes from the contaminated products, those who inhabits around the dumpsite and other vulnerable like; young children, waste workers and immunocompromised persons. In Nigeria, though there are municipal waste dumpsites across the nation, these sites are below standard and are not properly managed. Being a great concern to the society, the need for proper design and reconstruction of a well-engineered landfill cannot be over emphasized, among others. This paper will therefore review the environmental and public health implication of dumpsite leachate so as to create more awareness on the need for proper waste management in Nigeria. It concludes by recommending some proper means of waste disposal and management which could be considered for a better health and environment in Nigeria.

A Review : Sustainability from Waste

The increasing volume and complexity of waste associated with the modern economy as due to the ranging population, is posing a serious risk to ecosystems and human health. Every year, an estimated 11.2 billion tonnes of solid waste is collected worldwide and decay of the organic proportion of solid waste is contributing about 5 per cent of global greenhouse gas emissions (UNEP). Poor waste management - ranging from non-existing collection systems to ineffective disposal causes air pollution, water and soil contamination. Open and unsanitary landfills contribute to contamination of drinking water and can cause infection and transmit diseases. The dispersal of debris pollutes ecosystems and dangerous substances from waste or garbage puts a strain on the health of urban dwellers and the environment. India, being second most populated country of the world that too with the lesser land area comparatively, faces major environmental challenges associated with waste generation and inadequate waste collection, transport, treatment and disposal. Population explosion, coupled with improved life style of people, results in increased generation of solid wastes in urban as well as rural areas of the country. The challenges and barriers are significant, but so are the opportunities. A priority is to move from reliance on waste dumps that offer no environmental protection, to waste management systems that retain useful resources within the economy [2]. Waste segregation at source and use of specialized waste processing facilities to separate recyclable materials has a key role. Disposal of residual waste after extraction of material resources needs engineered landfill sites and/or investment in waste-to-energy facilities. This study focusses on the minimization of the waste and gives the brief about the various initiations for proper waste management system. Hence moving towards the alternatives is the way to deal with these basic problems. This paper outlines various advances in the area of waste management. It focuses on current practices related to waste management initiatives taken by India. The purpose of this article put a light on various initiatives in the country and locates the scope for improvement in the management of waste which will also clean up the unemployment.

Effect of Municipal Solid Waste Disposal on the Engineering Properties of Soil from a Non-Engineered Landfill

The presents study showed the effect of open dumping on soil characteristics and biodegradation settlement analysis of soil in non-engineered landfill. The contaminated soil is referred to as waste soil which has different settlement rates due to the various categories and complex characteristics of waste. The degradation of waste causing percolation of leachate into soil affecting the strength and stability of soil. This paper includes the analysis of geotechnical properties and settlement analysis of waste soil and its comparison was done with natural soil. The geochemical analysis was carried out by Energy Dispersive X- Ray Spectroscopy (EDX) and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM). The elemental analysis of soil exhibited presence of high oxygen and silica content in uncontaminated soil. The analysis depicted that specific gravity, maximum dry density (MDD), permeability and California bearing ratio (CBR) showed decreasing trend variation for polluted soil. It was observed that cohesion for contaminated soil was found to be increased thereby increasing the shear strength of soil. Additionally, temperature, pH and moisture content hold a significant position for assessing the settlement. The settlement of soil due to biodegradation of MSW is estimated using empirical mathematical model for dump site depending upon pH, moisture content and temperature. Additionally, settlement is evaluated keeping in view the settlement due to biodegradation of MSW on soil, which further helped in determination of the suitability of the site for the construction and other recreational purposes.

An Integrated Approach to the Management of Municipal Solid Waste in a Typical City in Southwest Nigeria

A study of the prevailing management of municipal solid waste (MSW) generated in Ado Ekiti, a city in the southwest of Nigeria was undertaken using desk and field studies. The composition of the MSW derived from on-site waste sampling comprised plastics (28%), food (26%), paper/cardboard (14%), metal (7%), rubber (6%), textile (6%), glass (4%), leather (4%), fines less than 10mm (3%) and wood (2%). Analysis of the MSW shows that the calorific value is greater than the required minimum value of 7 MJ/kg required for applicability of incineration. However, the criteria for a regular supply of refuse derived fuel (RDF) of at least 50,000 metric tons per year required for the applicability may not be met. Furthermore, incineration of the MSW may not be applicable due to its relatively expensive installation costs. An integrated MSW framework comprising reduction, reuse, recycling, recovery (composting), incorporation of the informal sector; public private partnership (PPP); public enlightenment and enforcement of regulatory laws on sanitation is proposed. Active participation of PPP is vital to the implementation of the framework. An engineered landfill is proposed as none exists in Ado Ekiti.