Global Journal of Earth and Environmental Science

The environmental impact of the indiscriminate dumping of solid waste is a huge environmental problem that needs to be addressed. This study aims to assess the environmental impacts of indiscriminate dumping of solid waste in Wukari Local Government Area, Taraba State, Nigeria. The sample size of this study consisted of 400 household heads in Wukari who were sampled for the study. The data collection was sequential using field observation, interviews and questionnaires. The data obtained was analysed (using descriptive statistics with the aid of Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 25.0). The result shows the composition of waste materials, which reveals the total percentage of waste materials in the entire ward. Polythene had a total of 22.5%, followed by Agricultural/food remains waste with 21.3%, cartons/ papers waste 20.5%, clothing/shoes waste constituted 19.8% and the least was plastic/cans/bottle waste, constituting 16.0% respectively. The common waste item observed was polythene, 33.4% which constitutes the largest component of solid waste generated by the residents; this was followed by carton/paper and clothes, 27.3%, Crop residue/food remnant, 18.0%. The Shoes, tins/cans waste was only 5.4% while plastic was 15.9% of the total waste generated. The survey revealed that 43.1% of the households, which constitute the majority, dumped their waste in open space. The study recommended that residents should contribute to environmental cleanliness by adopting an attitudinal change from indiscriminate refuse dumping along the street and the median strip of the highways.