Forecasting the viability of siting a waste pure water polyethylene recycling machine in Owerri

Forecasting the viability of siting a waste pure water polyethylene recycling machine in Owerri

 

FORECASTING THE VIABILITY OF SITTING A WASTE PURE WATER POLYETHYLENE RECYCLING MACHINE IN OWERRI

 

ABSTRACT

 

Wastes generally render our environment unfriendly and the worst of them all are those wastes that are non-biodegradable and as such, wastes of these forms (non-biodegradable) pose a serious threat to our environment. One of these categories of non-biodegradable wastes is pure water polyethylenes. They are found in virtually every part of Nigeria and various attempts have been made to biodegrade these pure water polyethylenes. One of these attempts was carried out by Nwachukwu S.et al (2010) in their research paper titled “Occurrence and recalcitrance of polythene bag wastes in Nigeria soils” where they attempted to biodegrade pure water sachets by burying them in the soil and subjecting them to acid and alkaline treatments with strains of Pseudonomas Spp. All these attempts proved abortive as the pure water polyethylenes could not undergo the process of biodegradation. In view of this, it was suggested in this project to design a low cost pure water polyethylene recycling machine capable of recycling about 30 tons of pure water sachets per hour.

The recycling machine was designed and fabricated with a good material of construction and the heating chamber was Teflon coated in order to avoid the sticking of the melted pure water sachets while extruding the recycled pure water sachets in pelletized form.

 

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

 

1.1       Background of the study

 

Recycling is one of the best ways for you to have a positive impact on the world in which we live. Recycling is important to both the natural environment and us. We must act fast as the amount of waste we create is increasing all the time (Sharma, 2008).  However, pure water polyethylenes are products of plastics which are used widely in Nigeria for various purposes, among such function is in the packaging of pure potable water. This when consumed and disposed can pose a great environmental problem if not disposed properly. Empty polythene plastic containers are rampant in the nook and cranny of the Nigerian landscape. Plastic materials are non-biodegradable material and when find their way into the soil prevents water from getting to the root of the plants and also restrict the stretching of the plant root. Some of it hinders the exchange of gases for respiration by plants and animals in the water body. Some areas in Owerri lined with millions of old and used containers deposited by travellers. Some of these wastes that litters the streets find their ways into drains, trenches and canals, thereby clogging drains and hindering the free flow of water and consequently leading to flooding. The expanding population and increased preference for packaged commodities are worsening the negative environmental impacts of these plastics (Kalilu, 2013).

In view of all the hazards that accompany the improper disposal of polyethylene wastes, the need then arise for an alternative means to manage the polyethylene waste. The only means of adequately take care of several tonnes of pure water polyethylene wastes being disposed is through the adoption of recycling process. This recycling process will go a long way to contribute to a cleaner environment. Waste pure water polyethylene recycling is the process of recovering wastes and turning old polyethylene into useable products that can re-enter the manufacturing chains. This will in turn generate revenue, create more job opportunities and reduce the hazards associated with improper disposal of pure water polyethylene wastes (Hopewell, Dvorak and Kosior, 2009).

 

1.2 Statement of problem

Wastes pose serious environmental and health problems, promote insect vectors like mosquitoes and flies (Cairncross and Feachem 1993), rats and mice, cause fire hazards, flooding of streams, development of aquatic weeds, odor problems, nuisance, and so on. According to Pichtel (2005), the environmental impacts can be clustered into six categories which include: global warming, photochemical oxidant creation, abiotic resource depletion, acidification, and eutrophication. Some of these problems are related to their major constituents. It is on these premises that the researcher intends to forecast the viability of sitting a waste pure water polyethylene recycling machine in preserving the environments.

1.3  Aims and Objectives  

The general objective of this study was to forecast the viability of sitting a waste pure water polyethylene recycling machine in Owerri.

The specific objectives of this were:

1. To examine the effect of reuse, recycling of waste pure water polyethylene and essential to waste management in Nigeria
2. To evaluate the role of Owerri state government in waste management in the jurisprudence
3. To evaluate the possibility of installing waste pure water polyethylene recycling machine in Owerri.

 

1.4 Relevance of the project

 

It is believed that at the completion of the study, the findings will be of great importance to the federal ministry of environment, in addressing the challenges of recycling as a means of managing solid waste in the country, the findings will also be of great significance to the environmental management agency as the findings will aid them in developing a model to check and control solid waste management through the recycling process. The study will also be of importance to researchers who intend to embark on studies in similar area. Finally the study will be of great importance to academias as the study will add to the body of knowledge

 

1.5  Scope and limitation of study

The scope of the study covers the forecasting of the viability of sitting a waste pure water polyethylene recycling machine in Owerri. However in the course of the study, the researcher encounters some constrain which limited the scope of the study. Some of these constrain are:

(a) Availability of research material: The research material available to the researcher is insufficient, thereby limiting the study.

(b) Time: The time frame allocated to the study does not enhance wider coverage as the researcher has to combine other academic activities and examinations with the study.

(c) Finance: The finance available for the research work does not allow for wider coverage as resources are very limited as the researcher has other academic bills to cover

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