ABSTRACT
Municipal solid waste management (MSWM) will continue to be a major challenge facing countries all over the world. Especially for developing countries, where the amount of municipal solid waste (MSW) has increased greatly due to rapid increase in urban population (Adebayo et al, 2006). Meanwhile, with limited resources, only basic technologies for treatment and disposal, and deficient enforcement of relevant regulations, serious problems remain for MSWM in developing countries, especially in regard to safe disposal. The progress of modern civilization and the associated increase in population worldwide has contributed significantly to the increase in the quantity and variety of waste generated (Anikwe and Nwobodo, 2002). The increase in consumption of resources has resulted in large amounts of solid waste from domestic activities and can lead to
significant threats to human health. Improper management of solid waste has serious environmental and health consequences, their environmental effects include pollution of surface and subsurface waters, unpleasant odours, pest infestations, and gas explosions (Ayo and Mohammed, 2010). Due to inadequate waste disposal, surface and groundwater are contaminated by leachate and the air is polluted by burning of waste or uncontrolled release of methane from anaerobic waste decomposition (Sha’Ato et al, 2007). The hazards associated with improper solid waste disposal and the associated environmental health impact should therefore be of utmost concern to waste management experts. If waste pollution continues unchecked, it may lead to unprecedented health consequences (Chen and Fujita, 2010).
