Management and Disposal of Industrial Wastes in Nigeria

Abstract

This paper examines the management and disposal of industrial waste in Nigeria. Four categories of industries were selected to give a cross-section of industrial life of the country with respect to the existing manner in which wastes are managed and disposed. The analysis of pollutants in the effluents from selected industries showed that larger proportion of the pollutants are suspended solid, dissolved solid, which can be easily treated and separated. Also, the average composition analysis of solid wastes from industries showed that, paper is by far the most abundant of these wastes, followed by plastic, metal, glass and wood in that order. This work reveals that most industries in Nigeria place little emphasis on proper wastes management, preferring the cheapest methods of wastes disposal to the most appropriate methods.