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Abstract: Problem statement: Both wastes and the crude disposal techniques have created subtle and
yet serious environmental pollution havoc in many developing countries. This has lead to the
degradation of abiotic and biotic components of these nations’ ecological systems. Poor industrial
waste disposal systems as well as the indiscriminate and inappropriate domestic litter disposal habit
have been identified and proved to be basic features in rural settlements, semi-urban areas and urban
centers of the developing world. These have seriously contributed to environmental pollution and
ecological deterioration. The major reasons for these were identified to be inadequate information and
insufficient modern waste disposal facilities. Approach: This study highlighted the use of simple, yet
efficient waste disposal techniques and recommends the adequate supply and optimal utilization of
trashcan and rubbish drums in private and public places; the consistent and wide use of recyclable
materials and recycling equipment; information flow and training of all on the use of new techniques
and methods and the need for the production and/or introduction of other appropriate technology and
policy to enhance the implementation and execution of proper waste management schemes that will
contribute to a cleaner and safer environment in developing countries. Results: As a result, sanitary
landfills were developed to replace the practice of open dumping and to reduce the reliance on waste
incineration. Conclusion: In the light of this review research, I recommend that there should be private
participation in managing wastes in the developing nation. Since the largest percentage of wastes in
developing countries is mainly organic, composting of wastes should be encouraged.
substances such as glass and metal objects (Fig. 4). For quantities of worm casts that are very rich in plant
effectiveness along these lines, industrialists should nutrients. In addition, harmful microbes present in these
initiate or institute promotions/bonanzas and declare decaying wastes on which the worms feed, are killed as
incentives for the collection of throw-away packs. They they pass through the worm’s gut. Because of its
should assist in environmental cleanliness and outstanding cleansing and recycling ability, it is being
sanitation programmes by providing along with their harnessed by waste disposal industries, particularly in
products, guidelines on how to properly dispose their Australia.
by-product/packs (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate The use of some 500 million worms that are fed
Change, 2006). They may also provide the trashcans for with pig manure or human waste and shredded
doing so. wastepaper, numerous waste-processing equipment
produce nutrient-rich plant foods that are marketed and
Recycling and re-cyclable materials: Many more utilized in horticultural and agricultural fields for crop
products could be made from materials that could be production.
recycled. This will minimize cost and contribute to a There are two broad types of recycling operations:
cleaner environment. A recyclable material is one that internal and external. Internal recycling is the reuse in a
could be molded and reprocessed with the aim of being manufacturing process of materials that are a waste
reused for the same purpose or another purpose in the product of that process. Internal recycling is common in
future. Recycling involves the concentration of use the metals industry. The manufacture of copper tubing
waste materials, their reprocessing (if required) and results in a certain amount of waste in form of tube
their subsequent reutilization in place of new materials ends and trimmings; this material is remelted and
(Britannica Corporate Site, 2001). This has also proved recast. Another from of internal recycling is seen in the
to be one of the most promising methods for distilling industry, in which, after the distillation, spent
conservation of mineral resources. If carried out in an grain (such as castor oil seed) mash is dried and
organized and consequent manner, recycling can processed into an edible foodstuff (livestock feed) for
greatly reduce the drain on supplies and utilization of cattle or processed for organic fertilizers production
new mineral resources. It is also appropriate for (Britannica Corporate Site, 2001; Arimoro and
products derived from living resources, such as the Arimoro, 2001).
reclamation of organic fertilizers from sewage. External recycling is the reclaiming of materials
Recycling can help reduce the quantities of solid waste from a product that has been worn out or rendered
deposited in landfills, which have become increasingly obsolete. An example of external recycling is the
expensive. Recycling reduces the pollution of air, water collection of old newspapers and magazines for
and soil resulting from waste disposal. It has a repulping and their manufacture into new paper
cleansing and refreshing effect on the surrounding products such as light cardboard paper and tissue paper.
environment. Aluminum cans and glass bottles are other examples of
Many of earth’s phenomenal procedures and everyday objects that are externally recycled on a large
natural cyclic systems follow intrinsic material scale. These materials can be collected by any of three
recycling processes. Most of these have proved main methods: buy-back centers, which purchase waste
significantly beneficial to all parties concerned (abiotic materials that have been sorted and brought in by
and biotic components of ecosystems). Litter fall (of consumers; drop-off centers, where consumers can
plants and their parts) on forest and aquatic floors are deposit waste materials but are not paid for them; and
decomposed and enrich the soils for future plant curbside collection, in which homes and businesses sort
nutrient absorption and assimilation. This recycle their waste materials and deposit them by the curb for
process is continuous and perpetual in nature as the collection by a central agency.
soils, organisms and their interrelationship experience Society’s choice of whether and how much to
replenishment and refreshment. Many animal recycle depends basically on economic factors.
organisms have been observed to exhibit remarkable Conditions of affluence and cheap raw materials
recycling powers with and in their biological and encourage people’s tendency to simply discard used
physical microenvironment. materials. Recycling becomes economically attractive
Insects such as ants, termites and dung insect are when the cost of reprocessing waste or recycled
good biological waste recycling agents. Another material is less than the cost of processing new
notable example is the earthworm (Lumbricus spp.). In materials (Britannica Corporate Site, 2001). Many
nature, these worms consume decomposing organic developing countries will do well to consider this. Their
wastes found in the soil. They, thus produce huge governments can also make the needed plans and
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Am. J. Environ. Sci., 6 (1): 26-32, 2010
policies for the introduction and production of the grown on the same site. By bioremediation, microbes
necessary equipment and technology to improve and can also be sued for stabilizing hazardous wastes on
facilitate their waste management procedures. Proper previously contaminated zones. Higher plants, insects
allocation of funds and other appropriate resources will and earthworm have also been used as biological agents
contribute adequately to such waste management for waste treatment and recycling. Bioremediation is a
schemes. To reduce environmental pollution and principle as well as a technique whereby biological
hazards by plastic bags, a remarkable recycling process resources are utilized to restore a degraded area to its
has been introduced in Australia. Components of original state (CE-RASE, 2000; Arimoro, 2000).
cassava/tapioca starch are being used to produce The chemical, thermal and biological treatment
environmentally friendly and biodegradable bags. Tests methods outlined above change the molecular form of
show that after use and when disposed, these bags can the waste material. Physical treatment, on the other
decompose in three months (Green Living Tips, 2009). hand, concentrates, solidifies, or reduces the volume of
the waste. Physical processes include evaporation,
Treatment, storage and disposal: Several options are sedimentation, flotation and filtration. Yet another
available for hazardous waste management. The most process is solidification, which is achieved by
desirable will aim at reducing the quantity of waste at encapsulating the waste in concrete, asphalt, or plastic.
its source or to recycle the materials for some other Encapsulation produces a solid mass of material that is
productive use. Nevertheless, while reduction and resistant to leaching. Waste can also be mixed with
recycling are desirable options, they are not regarded as lime, fly ash and water to form a solid, cement-like
the final remedy to the problem of hazardous waste product (Britannica Corporate Site, 2001. All these
disposal. There will always be a need for adequate methods of treatment and recycling can be introduced
treatment as well as for proper storage, transportation or and largely utilized in waste management programmes
disposal of some amount of hazardous waste from time in developing nations. The implementation and
to time. programmes should serve both urban and rural
Hazardous waste can be treated by chemical, communities. Methods for domestic waste management
thermal, biological and physical methods. Chemical include the use of pits and burying. Usually, only
methods include ion exchange, precipitation, oxidation readily degradable material wastes such as organic
and reduction and neutralization. Among thermal litters of plant and animal parts, agric produce, food
methods include the use of high temperature materials and faecal dropping are best suited for such
incineration, which will not only detoxify certain disposal techniques. In most cases, there is an
organic wastes but also destroy them. Special types of additional beneficial effect burying gives to the soil
thermal equipment are used for burning waste in the environment\, it enhance organ decomposition\, humus
solid, liquid, or sludge form. These include the formation, nutrient cycling and soil refertilization.
fluidized-bed incinerator, multiple-hearth furnace, The user charges technique is an effective tool for
rotary kiln and liquid-injection incinerator. One combating and ameliorating the existing waste
problem posed by hazardous waste incineration is the collection and weak disposal situation in developing
potential for air pollution. countries. In discussing how this methods work,
The use of pollution-free incinerators and other Ikeanyionwu (2000) highlighted its efficiency when all
equipment for burning and reducing wastes to ashes are parties cooperate as a team to achieve a cleaner and
effective when utilized as appropriately. The ash end- healthier environment that will undoubtedly contribute to
product of incinerator-treated-wastes could be national economic growth. He suggested that users pay a
effectively used as components of manure and reasonable fee for the services of waste collection and
environmental friendly fertilizers for agricultural and disposal. In this way customer household, individuals or
horticultural purposes. private enterprises (who become users) relieve and assist
Biological treatment of certain organic wastes, the government in urban waste management
such as those from the petroleum industry, is also an programmes. This technique could also be introduced
option. One method used to treat hazardous waste and incorporated in rural waste management schemes.
biologically is called land farming. In this technique
the waste is carefully mixed with surface soil on a CONCLUSION
suitable tract of land. Microorganisms that can
metabolize the waste may be added, along with The use and promotion of appropriate waste
nutrients. In some cases, a genetically engineered disposal techniques have become necessary to achieve a
bacteria species is used. Food or forage crops are not much healthier and cleaner environment in developing
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Am. J. Environ. Sci., 6 (1): 26-32, 2010
counties. In this regard and based on prevailing Arimoro, A.O., 2000. Desertification, biodiversity and
conditions, these nations could emulate developed environmental problem in the agricultural and
countries that enjoy a relatively environment. For socio-economic development of Nigeria: Causes,
effectiveness, the governments and concerned agencies consequences and recommendations. Proceedings
of these countries will do well to take the lead by of the 8th Interactive Session held at the 2nd IUCN
encouraging the production and/or introduction (from World Conservation Congress, Oct. 7, Amman,
advanced countries with good reputation of safe and Jordan, pp: 32-35.
clean environment) of appropriates technology, Arimoro, A.O. and R. Arimoro, 2001. The castor plant
equipment/machines including waste disposal vehicles and its unique oil: An informative research précis.
for sound waste management procedures. The Unpublished paper.
Burian, B. and T.K. Alphonce, 2000. Sustainable
equipment should include machines capable of
Development in an Urban Tanzanian Context.
producing recyclable materials and machines that could
http://www.unrisd.org/unrisd/website/document.nsf
recycle used materials to reusable ones. /(httpPublications)/E1CC5E17A541F084C1256F3
Waste paper bags, dustbins, trashcans and disposal C0040657D?OpenDocument
drums should be provided in strategic locations in the CE-RASE., 2000. We have solution to environmental
public and private places. Households should be should degradation in Nigeria. The Hope Home and
what material are readily biodegraded and which Environ. J., 12.
substance are not; each of which should be disposed in Cointreau, S.J., 1982. Environmental Management of
different drums. Collection by waste disposal vehicles Urban Solid Wastes in Developing Countries: A
should then follow promptly. These will then be Project Guide. Urban Development Department,
transported and disposal of in the appropriate places for World Bank, Washington, DC., ISBN:
proper storage, treatment and/or recycling. 0821300636, pp: 214.
Adequate information and training should be given Britannica Corporate Site, 2001. Encyclopaedia
and disseminated to all concerned information Britannica New releases.
pertaining to the negative impacts of wastes on and in http://corporate.britannica.com/press/releases/2001
the environment, waste disposal techniques, new dvd.html
technologies and their applications, could be Federal Environmental Protection Agency, (FEPA),
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Recommendation: In the light of this review research, J. Environ. Assess. Manage., 2: 51-60.
I recommend that there should be private participation Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, (IPCC),
in managing wastes in the developing nation. Since the 2006. Guidelines for National Greenhouse Gas
largest percentage of wastes in developing countries is Inventories. In: Waste Generation, Composition
mainly organic, composting of wastes should be and Management Data, Pipatti, R., S. Alves, Q.
encouraged. Lastly the government should assist the Goa, G.H.S. Guendehou and M. Koch et al. (Eds.).
grassroots in proper waste management. Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change
(IPCC), IPCC/OECD/IEA, Paris, France.
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