Abstract

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This study was designed to isolate and characterize the microflora associated with selected solid waste dump sites in Okitipupa Local Government Area (LGA) of Ondo State, Nigeria. Solid waste samples were collected in triplicates from ten (10) dump sites in Okitipupa LGA at two-week interval for three months using a random sampling procedure while culture method is used to isolate the bacteria. The standard method of ASTM-D5231-92 was employed to determine the quantity and composition of wastes. The most prevalent waste was food or green wastes, which ranged from 39.40% to 19.50%, while polythene materials were the least with a range of 5.20% to 0.90%. The mean bacterial counts ranged from 9.2 x 106 to 4.6 x 106 cfu. Colonial morphology and biochemical identifications of the bacteria from the samples revealed Serratia sp. Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Proteus mirabilis, Bacillus sp, E. coli and Actinomycetes. Respiratory reactions may be induced in individuals. It is then concluded that, to lower the health risks linked to microflora in solid waste dumpsites, Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) facilities should have regular inspections, clean and disinfect surfaces and equipment, make sure workers wear protective gear, and follow proper waste management and disposal practices

Keywords: : Dumpsites, Environment, Microflora, Municipal solid waste, Pathogens