FRAMEWORK FOR DEVELOPING ENGINEERED LANDFILL IN JOS PLATEAU STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

Waste disposal is the final phase of all types of waste, the environmental problems associated with the dumpsites are the potential risk leachate posed to soil, since the wastes first contact is surface of soil. Result of MSW composition at generation sources and collection points, determined on a wet weight basis, consists mainly of a large organic fraction (45%), ash and fine earth (8%), paper (10%) and plastic, glass and metals 15 and 5%.” Dumpsite at Honda village showed the lowest LPI of 16.5, whereas dumpsites at GeroNyango and Saon Geri Atu villages showed highest LPI value of 20.1 and 23.4. If waste cannot be processed for recovery or as a source of energy and cannot be treated for discharge to the surface water or air, it must be disposed off on land. The landfill site should be so designed as to reduce environmental and health risks. Engineered landfills are sites selected for waste disposal, such as natural or artificial (excavated) depressions, engineered facilities, where the waste is disposed through appropriate technological processes, compacted as densely as practicable to minimize its volume and covered with a layer of soil or some other material in a systematic and sanitary manner. Developing an effective and efficient engineered landfill is therefore crucial for the health and well-being of people across the nations and states. This method could significantly reduce the experiences of leachate migration and percolation. The fact that many old dumpsites and landfills in the country poses impacts to environment and health of public necessitates actions for remediating dumpsites as well as reclaim the land being degraded.