Evaluating the Solid Waste Dump Site within Lokoja Metropolis using Geospatial Techniques

Abstract

Solid waste management has become a complex global environmental problem in both developed and less developing Countries. The problem is widely noticeable in Lokoja area of Kogi State, Nigeria. This is mostly caused by poor planning and lack of adequate information need to tackle urban solid waste management. Therefore, adequate information on solid waste dump site (SWDS)
is required to mitigate future hazards that may emanate from these wastes within Lokoja Metropolis. This study applied Geospatial Techniques to assess the trend of the Solid Waste Dump site within the period of three years. Due to different parameters involved, the study adopted the principle of Separation Distances as recommended by the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) Landfill Manual 2006. The separation distances parameters considered in the monitoring of the Dump Site include; the distance of the dump site to water body (>960m), the slope of the Dump Site (0 o -5 o ), distance of the dump site to the road (100m-1000m), and distance to the residential areas (>8000m). LandSat ETM imagery of 2014, 2016, and 2018 of the study area was
used for the supervised classification as well as the distance analysis over the years. ASTER imagery, and Quickbird satellite imagery were used to generate the slope, extraction of the roads/buildings and delineation of rivers within the study area. The study revealed that the distance of the dumpsite to the road accounted for 160m in 2014, 57m in 2016, and 14m in 2018.
The distance of the dumpsite to the built-up areas accounted for 1547m in 2014, 1287m in 2016, and 876m in 2018. It can be seen from the analysis that the slopes were 3 0 in 2014 and 2016, and 5 0 in 2018. It is recommended that the existing dumpsite be relocated to another area. Suitability analysis should be carried out before siting new dumpsites.