Solid Waste

Solid waste can be
defined as useless and unwanted products in the solid state derived from the
activities of man and discarded in society.

It is produced either
by either by production process or arise from the domestic or commercial sector
when objects or materials are discarded after use.

The term solid waste
means materials such as household garbage (includes recycling), food wastes,
yard waste and demolition or construction debris. It also includes discarded
items like household appliances, furniture, scrap metals, machinery, car parts
and abandon vehicles.

In an average person,
solid waste is usually being said as the following terms;

1.
Garbage: This term is given to food waste, but may include
other degradable organic waste.

2.
Rubbish: Consists of combustible and non – combustible
solid waste, excluding food waste.

3.
Refuse: the collective term for solid waste, includes both garbage and
rubbish

4.
Litters: odds and ends, bits of paper, discarded wrapping bottles etc.
left lying around in public places.

Types of Waste.

Waste is generated
continuously in every single activity. Each activity will generate different
types of waste which will require its own separate or specialized treatment.

The type of waste
that is commonly generated in everyday activities are as follows

1a) Municipal Solid
Waste

i.
Domestic waste

ii.
Commercial waste

iii.
Community waste

iv.
Construction waste

v.
Institution waste

b) Hazardous Waste

c) Industrial Waste

Municipal Solid Waste

Considering today’s
generally high living standard, it is shocking that almost everybody in Nigeria
live in areas that have no facilities for waste disposal and waste treatment
facilities overloaded.

Many cities still
dump raw sewage into the fresh water supply; others build pyramids of solid
waste dumps.

Almost all the
activities of human result to waste.

Hazardous Waste

These are types of
waste materials found in our environment that are dangerous to human health
such as broken bottles, cans, nails, stones, etc.

Industrial Waste

This type of waste
result from the industrial process of product manufacturing.

Effects of Solid Waste

·
Breeding areas for mosquitoes which causes disease such as malaria

·
Air pollution – this cause air-borne diseases

·
Discomfort to the people living in such areas.

Solid Waste Management

·
Education and training