Solid Waste Management and Environmental Health in Local Government Areas of Rivers State: A Study of Port Harcourt City

This study examines the effectiveness of solid waste management practices and their implications for environmental health in Port Harcourt City Local Government Area of Rivers State, South South Nigeria. Rapid urbanization, population growth, and inadequate waste collection infrastructure have combined to create a significant environmental health crisis in Port Harcourt, with poorly managed waste contributing to flooding, disease outbreaks, and environmental degradation. The study adopts a descriptive research design, with primary data collected from 200 household respondents, waste management workers, and local government environmental officers using structured questionnaires and observational checklists. The study is guided by the Ecological Modernization Theory, which advocates for the integration of environmental considerations into public administration. Secondary data includes recent Port Harcourt City Local Government waste management reports, Rivers State Environmental Sanitation Authority records, and academic publications on urban waste governance in Nigeria. Descriptive statistics and simple regression analysis are employed to analyze data. Findings are expected to reveal systemic deficiencies in waste collection frequency, disposal site management, and inter-agency coordination. The study recommends the adoption of an integrated solid waste management framework at the local government level, incorporating private sector partnerships and community waste segregation programs. Keywords: Solid waste management, environmental health, Port Harcourt, local government, Rivers State.