All human activities generate waste and waste will continue to be as long as man lives on earth. Waste has been described as any material that we no longer have need of and are ready to discard. The generation of waste seem not to be the problem but the improper and nonchalant attitude towards proper waste disposal has constituted serious problem all over the world for a long time.
Today it has virtually become normal to see waste lying at every corner of our environment, gutter, road median and highway. Major urban cities around the world, Nigeria inclusive, are today fighting to clear mounting heaps of solid waste from the environment.
Improper disposal of municipal solid waste creates insanitary conditions, these conditions in turn can lead to pollution of the environment and outbreak of disease. Recently the world celebrated World Environment Day with the aim to bring to bear the imminent danger in the uncontrolled and indiscriminate use and disposal of plastics in our environment.
Plastic constitutes a fraction of our daily municipal solid waste generated. It has come to a point where all tiers of government must come together to find a lasting solution to the menace of solid waste in our environment with effective and efficient waste management strategies. It is evident that improper waste management has negative effects on our health because of it multiplier effects through all forms of pollution: soil, water and air pollution.
The management of solid waste in both rural and urban centres should be community based. Individuals, homes and offices should imbibe the culture of waste management. Waste sorting should be encouraged in homes, this will invariably reduce the quantity of waste disposed and can serve as a means of providing little income for the people. All strata of the society should be educated on the effect of improper waste disposal and fines should be imposed on any individual that is caught disposing off their refuse inappropriately.
