Name of Candidate: Tariek Cotterell School: Titchfield High School

Teacher:

Mrs. Simpson

Title: Land Pollution in my community.

Table of Content

Title Acknowledgement Introduction Statement of the Problem Method of Investigation Instrument used to collect Data Procedures used to collect Data Presentation & Explanation of Data Interpretation of data Findings Recommendation

Page I II 1 2 3-4 5 6 11 12 13 14

Acknowledgement
To make this study a success, it wouldnt have been possible without the assistance of the residents of Fairy Hill Gardens, who took the time off from carrying out their own businesses to answer the questionnaires. I would also like to thank my teacher who has guided me through this project and Damon Clarke for his assistance in distributing the questionnaires and collecting them. Finally, I would like to thank God for giving me the health and courage to complete this project.

Introduction
Fairy Hill Gardens is a small community in Portland. It is located approximately 7miles of the towns centre. Fairy Hill Gardens is consisted of approximately 300 households. I have been a resident of Fairy Hill Gardens for the past 4 years. During this time I have noticed that there are cases of land pollution. I have therefore decided to complete a survey to investigate on some of the ways land pollution affects the members of my community and how it can be reduced. According to the Cambridge International Dictionary of English, pollution can be defined as the introduction of a foreign substance into the environment, which defeats the ability of the environment to adjust or cope with it, but in this research the researcher as stated before, focuses on land pollution. Land pollution is a problem that the world at large faces for centuries. It is said, Old habits are hard to brake, but this researcher hopes to enlighten the knowledge of anyone who reads this project, thus helping to prevent any further violations of my community

II

Statement of the Problem

What are some of the ways land is polluted in Fairy Hill Gardens, how does it affect the members of the community, and how can it be reduced.

Method of Investigation
Printed questionnaires were used to gather the necessary information for the survey. The Questionnaire as a tool for collecting data has a number of advantages: It requires little time to be completed It can be done at the convenience of the person required to have it completed It guarantees confidentiality since respondents are not required to attach their names

Questionnaire
1. Sex

2. To which age group do you belong? 1526-

20-

3. How long have you lived in Fairy Hill Gardens? 14-

4. What kind of garbage is found around the community?

5. Where does majority of the garbage come from? Dumped by passers-

6. How do you dispose of your garbage? By burning others, please specify 7. Is there a garbage collection programme in your community?

8. If yes, how often is your garbage collected? other, please specify 9. How concerned are you about the garbage program?

10. Do you know how to make a compost heap?

11. If yes, where do you make your compost heaps? others, please specify 3 12. Does the pollution of the land affect you in anyway?

13. If yes, how does it affect you?

14. What is the range of illnesses within your community? 1112115. How much of the illnesses lead to death? 1516. Do you think the problem of land pollution can be solved?

17. What do you think can be done to prevent the cause of land pollution in your community? other, please specify

Procedure used to Collect Data

As stated earlier, Fairy Hill Gardens has approximately (300) three hundred households. It was calculated that a sample of 30 persons were necessary in order to ensure the accurate conclusion of land pollution problems faced in my community. A total of 30 questionnaires were prepared for distribution, to members of the community. It was expected that at least 20 of these would be returned. I decided to use random selection which will cater for all the requirements stated above. The sample size consist of different races namely white, Indian and blacks. The sample size only consisted of one religion, Christianity. The sample size consisted of persons 18+.

Presentation of data
Different age range of recepients

8 7 6 5
Amount of people

4 3 2 1 0
15-19yrs 20- 25yrs 26- 30yrs 31yrs & over

15-19yrs 20- 25yrs 26- 30yrs 31yrs & over

ages

The chart above refers to question two (2) and show the age range of the people who received and complete the questionnaire. It is clearly shown that the elders of the community were more involved; as the age group decreases so does the numbers of the recipients decrease also.

The different effects of land pollution

20%

15%
causes the land to be infertile cause disease increase rodent population cause bad odour

15%

50%

The pie chart above is referring to question thirteen (13) it indicates the different effects of land pollution. 50% of the residents said that it increase rodents population, another 20% replied that it causes bad odour while another 15% respondents said it causes the land to be infertile and the remaining 15% replied that it causes diseases.

Method of disposing refuse

OPTIONS

PERCENTAGE

Burning Dumping in gullies Wait on the garbage trucks others

25% 10% 60% 5%

The chart above represents question six (6). It shows how the residents in the community get rid of their garbage. 25% get rid of their garbage by burning it, another 10% dump theirs in near by gullies and 60% wait until the garbage truck arrive to dispose of the refuse and the remaining only 5% get rid of the refuse by other means.

Awareness of garbage collection program

15%

85%

Yes

No

The Pie above refers to the awareness of garbage collection program in the community (question seven). 85% responded that they were aware of the program while only 15% of the residents were not aware of the program.

Different types of refuse found around the community

50 40
Percentages

45 30 20 5
plastic & glass bottles styfoam items plastic bags & straws diapers & napkins

30 20 10 0

Types of garbage

The line graph below refers to question four (4); it is indicating the different types of refuses found around the community. 45% of the respondent said that plastic bags and straws are mostly found around the community, 30% said that its plastic and glass bottles, 20% said its styfoam items while the remaining 5% said its diaper and napkins

Origin of refuse

5%

10%

Dumped there by passers by

brought there by dogs

25%

60%

dumped there by community members

dumped by neighbouring communities

Interpretation of Data
According to the data collected, it is clear that the main cause of land pollution in Fairy Hill Gardens were caused by passers-by and stray dogs. Approximately 60% of the community members wait on the services provided by the garbage collectors, while 25% go ahead and help themselves by burning the garbage, 10% dump the garbage into nearby gullies while 5% get rid of garbage by other means. Some of these garbage include; plastic and glass bottles, which water may settle in and create a habitat for mosquitoes. Plastic bags, straws, Styrofoam items, and dirty diapers are other forms of garbage found in Fairy Hill Gardens. Chemical spill, which is also another form of land pollution, seeps into the earth, contaminating it thus, making the area barren. These chemicals too, may be harmful to residents. Due to the problems of land pollution in Fairy Hill Gardens, it has lead to other problems. When the excess garbage is left lying around; it creates a haven for various kinds of pests and rodents. These pests eventually find their way into the homes of the residents, where they act as catalysts for numerous disease causing bacteria which could eventually affect members of the household. These migrated pests and rodents also destroy possessions of the family members and sometimes attack them. As an act of this, residents can no longer live private lives; they have to be sharing their homes with the pests and rodents.

Findings
From the data collected, it is clear that: 1 The majority (60%) of the garbage were either dropped there by passers-by or by stray dogs. 2 85% of the people in the community was aware of the garbage collection programme program which can be used as a method to reduce the land pollution caused by the garbage. 3 It was also discovered that mostly plastic items were been dumped around the community, approximately 64%.

Recommendations
In order to prevent the damage caused by land pollution the researcher recommends that we must first prevent land pollution and we can do this if we form groups to go around and educate the people on the dangers of land pollution. The researcher also recommends that the farmers should adopt the practice of bringing unused and unwanted chemicals back to the company that produces it or to the Pesticide Control Authority, so, as to reduce the amount of chemical which are being dumped onto our land. .In order to prevent pollution, we must take steps to ensure that we dispose of our garbage properly. We can do this in many different ways, such as recycling, burning land fills, making compost heaps, returning unused chemicals to distributors, re-using solid materials. If we as members of the community should use the preventative measures which have been named, then we are sure to have a safe, better looking and sanitary community If the community should accept and use these methods, then there is a possibility of the reduction of land pollution in Fairy Hill Gardens.