Modern Abattoir For Enugu State- A Study On Effective Product Processing And Waste Management

ABSTRACT

The abattoir as a meat processing industry world-wide is saddled with the responsibility of maintaining good standards of hygiene in terms of its operation and waste management. Wastes are generated in diverse forms in abattoirs, these include, solid or semi-solid wastes, liquid wastes and gases. If these effluents or contaminants are not adequately and efficiently managed, the negative impact on the residential environs and human health cannot be overemphasized. Hygiene must be key in all abattoir operations. This study is engaged in identifying the different wastes generated from abattoir operations and at the same time proffering solutions on how these wastes can be effectively managed so that meat contamination and environmental pollution is highly minimized. This study is also aimed at identifying the various mechanisms and procedures to be observed to ensure the smooth running of abattoir operations. The findings from this study indicate that a collection of these wastes are useful raw materials for our industries. Some of these wastes are transformed into useful products needed other operations, wastes like the cow dung is mixed with other ingredient and used as food for pig farming, the horns are useful raw material for the plastic industries, the skull and bones used in making ceramics, the hides used for leather works and the offal converted to fertilizers. These wastes when effectively managed reduce the extent of pollution in our environment. Finally, it can be concluded that it is important to incorporate in the design of abattoir adequate means of collecting these wastes from their different sources of production as well as packaging them for either collection by interested individuals/factories or appropriate disposal of unusable wastes.

Keywords: Abattoir; waste management; environment; public health.