Assessment of Polythene Wastes Generation and Disposal in University of Maiduguri Campus, Maiduguri, Borno State, Nigeria

Abstract

This study is a survey which assesses generation and disposal of polythene wastes in the University of Maiduguri Campus. The population of this study comprises all the quarters or units in the University of Maiduguiri Campus. Data were generated through questionnaire, oral interview, personal observation, Global Positioning System (GPS), photographs and documents. Samples drawn purposively were made from four units comprising student hostels, residential, academic and commercial areas of the University. Big polythene bags were used to collect the polythene wastes in each unit or area for one week, the collected wastes were measured with weighing scale. One hundred copies of questionnaire were also administered to the respondents to capture polythene wastes disposal methods. Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) was adopted to find out the variance among the six items on public perception of the impact of polythene materials. The study establishes that student hostels and commercial areas generate higher quantity of polythene wastes than the residential and academic areas. It also reveals that almost half of the polythene wastes were generated in the students’ hostels. Keeping wastes for collection by the environmental units of the campus or direct disposal in designated places were the main methods of polythene wastes disposal in the campus, though, polythene wastes were collected irregularly. It also reveals that there is no significant difference among some selected items on the impacts of polythene wastes in the environment. The study recommends among others that as much as practicable, dust bins should be provided in designated places in the campus, which are expected to be collected daily for final disposal.