Domestic Waste Management and Urban Residential Environment: Focus on Akure, Nigeria

The problem of waste generation, handling and disposal has reached a disturbing level in Nigerian urban centres. This study attempts to examine the impacts of domestic waste on the residential environment of some selected neighbourhoods of Akure, capital city of Ondo State, Nigeria based on the waste disposal methods currently employed by the inhabitants of each building. The paper studied two areas of the city namely: Oke Aro and Isolo. The study summarizes and interprets findings from empirical survey of some residential buildings randomly selected within the study area through the use of questionnaire, direct observations, housing demographic and facility survey to elicit relevant data relating to social, economic and environmental variables. Three hundred buildings within the study areas were studied which represents about 30% of the total number of buildings in the areas. Data obtained were collated and presented in the single factor descriptive analysis while health records were obtained from the few available health institutions. Findings show that health of individuals cannot be considered in isolation of the buildings and the environment in which they live. The paper recommends public enlightenment, environmental and health education, enforcement of environmental and waste disposal protection laws and reintroduction of old sanitary inspectors with corresponding policy statements.