Document Type : ORIGINAL RESEARCH PAPER
Author
Department of Mechanical Engineering, College of Engineering, Federal University of Agriculture, Makurdi, Nigeria
Abstract
This study was carried out to reveal the plastic wastes separation practice and disposal mechanism as well as awareness of the negative impact of plastic wastes on the environment, in Makurdi area of Benue State, Nigeria. Questionnaires were administered to 468 individual respondents in 6 sub-locations of the city. Inquisition was also made from 10 hospitals, 6 market centers and the waste management body. The results revealed that 81.2% of the respondents do not separate plastic wastes from other waste stream. All the hospitals and markets do not sort at all. The government agency responsible for the final management of the waste stream does not have a practice of sorting plastic wastes from the whole waste collected with a view to achieving material and energy recovery. The most adopted methods of disposal for plastic wastes by all the stakeholders considered are dumping/burning and dumping. 50.4% of the respondents adopted dumping/burning as a disposal method for plastic wastes while 19.2% burn theirs. Although almost 50% of the population examined for the study claimed to be aware of the dangers of plastic wastes, there is still indifference in the way these wastes are handled as can be observed by the indiscriminate dumping of these wastes, creating litters around the environment. These result revealed a need for the development of a proactive and sustainable management system involving individuals, businesses, hospital managements and waste management body that will protect the environment and enhance resource and energy recovery from plastic wastes.
Graphical Abstract
Keywords
- Plastic wastes
- Disposal mechanism
- Environmental impact awareness
- Material and energy recovery
- Makurdi
Main Subjects
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ACC, (2005). How plastics are made. American Chemistry Council.
Bakare, W., (2016). Solid Waste Management in Nigeria. BioEnergy Consult.
Gorman, B., (2017). Plastic Waste: Environmental Effects of Plastic Pollution. The Vegan Junction.
CNY, (2014). PlaNYC Progress Report 2014.City of New York.
Plasticisrubbish, (2013). Naphtha and Oil derived plastics.
PlasticsEurope, (2013). Zero Plastics to landfill: Waste collection, pre-treatment and sorting.
PlasticsEurope, (2018). How plastics are made.
UNEP, (2018). UN Declares War on Ocean Plastic.United Nations Environment Program.
ACC, (2005). How plastics are made. American Chemistry Council.
Bakare, W., (2016). Solid Waste Management in Nigeria. BioEnergy Consult.
Gorman, B., (2017). Plastic Waste: Environmental Effects of Plastic Pollution. The Vegan Junction.
CNY, (2014). PlaNYC Progress Report 2014.City of New York.
Plasticisrubbish, (2013). Naphtha and Oil derived plastics.
PlasticsEurope, (2013). Zero Plastics to landfill: Waste collection, pre-treatment and sorting.
PlasticsEurope, (2018). How plastics are made.
UNEP, (2018). UN Declares War on Ocean Plastic.United Nations Environment Program.
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