International Journal of Scientific Research and Engineering Development

This study was carried out to determine the management and disposal of some domestic solid wastes in FCT, Abuja. Survey of household and Questionnaire were used as data collection tools for the study.Four towns were selected from each Area Council through a multi-stage technique to ensure engagement of urban and slum districts.Ten households were selected from each of the town sampled. Each household earmarked for sampling was given labelled polythene bags for daily collection of the wastes. The wastes were subsequently collected every evening to the designated sites and labelled polythene bags from the various households were weighed and weights noted.Then the wastes were sorted out into various categoriesand weighed again. The results from the study area showed that the main components of domestic solid waste were food residues, vegetables and perishables, glass, paper and cardboards, plastics and ceramics, polythenes, used cans, and textile materials. The waste had heterogeneous composition comprising of 85% degradable and 15% non-degradable materials co-dumped without separation. The implication of these is that if not properlymanaged, such wastes may decay rapidly leading to high multiplication and subsequent contamination with bacteria and other microbes from the rotten food and vegetables. Since some of these wastes are often removed by the less privileged for either direct consumption or sold to make money or for recycling back to the immediate communities, which may lead to the spreading of microbial infections that may be of serious public health concern. In FCT wastes are either collected by Abuja EnvironmentalProtection Board(AEPB), its contractors, or burnt by the households. Household waste burning is widely practiced especially in dry season as a form of reducing combustibles in wastes.However, the health and environmental implication of waste burning is that it contributes to bio-accumulation of toxins and formation of acid rain.The Chi-Square test is used as a statistical analysis.The study recommended for an Integrated Solid Waste Management hierarchy; source reduction, reuse, recycle, waste combustion and landfills, should be strictly adopted and followed