Indiscriminate Disposal of waste in Amamoma

Abstract

Waste generation is an integral aspect of human existence that is unavoidable. It is a product of resource use process that has the capacity of abusing the environment and constitute a threat to public health if not well managed. Therefore, waste generated through human activities needs to be properly managed through concrete efforts to maintain a healthy and sustainable environment. The volume of solid waste generated does not measure the degree to which the environment will be polluted. Thus, if the waste can be evacuated and disposed of satisfactorily, and as fast as it is generated, there would be no accumulation and hence no abuse or pollution of the environment. It is when evacuation perpetually lags behind the rate of generation that solid waste becomes an environmental nuisance. This study assesses the effect of indiscriminate solid waste disposal and environmental issues associated with the management of solid waste in Amamoma community, a suburb of Cape Coast Metropolitan Assembly. Primary data were used for the study. Primary data were acquired through structured questionnaires administered to a sample of 91 respondents which was randomly selected from the study area. The major environmental issues resulting from improper disposal and poor management of solid waste in Amamoma are physical nuisance of the waste to the environment, harbourage of rodents and vermin, breeding of houseflies and other vectors. Therefore, this paper recommends that a strong legislation with severe penalty be put in place and there should be a continuous public enlightenment/education on the danger of indiscriminate waste to the general public. It is also recommended that available market be created for these waste that can be recycled.