Unsafe Waste Disposal Practices in Nigerian Cities: Geoenvironmental Perspectives

Abstract

Geoenvironmental contamination represents a real hazard to human health. There is no section of society that this issue fails to touch. This is why it ranks amongst the most important problems facing geoenvironmental engineers, earth scientists and policy makers in the industrialized countries where there is wider environmental consciousness. Governments of these countries have responded by promulgating stringent regulations on safe disposal of wastes.

This paper critically and objectively reviewed the issue of geoenvironmental pollution resulting from indiscriminate and unacceptable waste disposal practices in Nigerian cities. Effects of contaminants in leachate that drains from waste dumps into the soil such as organic and inorganic compounds, heavy metals and pesticides on human health were highlighted. It canvases for good disposal practices such as the use of engineered landfill which have been found to work in the industrialized countries.