Social Assessment for the Refinement of Solid Waste Management System in Port Harcourt Metropolis

The issues with open dumps in populated settlements like Port Harcourt overbear on public health and environmental sanity. The shift of emphasis in this study from traditional system to modern system of waste management is to conform to international best practices in the solid waste management sector. With the help of qualitative design, traditional waste management system in practice today in Port Harcourtis critically reviewed using a social assessment strategy. A social assessment strategy developed for the study validated the suitability of waste minimisation, reuse, recycling, material recovery and sanitary landfill disposal for the city. Findings reveal that traditional methods of waste management are susceptible to public health challenges, urban decay and environmental degradation and associated problems. It is recommended that a transition from traditional to modern waste management system should be adopted for refuse control system in the metropolitan area.