Abstract
This paper focuses on plastic waste sorting intentions to address municipal solid waste challenges in developing countries. This study also adapts the theory of planned behavior (TPB) in evaluating the determinants of plastic waste sorting intentions among Nigerian students. Nine hundred and thirty-nine respondents participated through questionnaire surveys. Findings of structural equation modelling depict that perceived behavioral control had the highest impact on the respondents’ plastic waste sorting intentions, followed by subjective norms; however, attitude was found to be insignificant and TPB explained 77% of the variance in waste sorting intentions. The importance of other influencing factors is also considered such as environmental awareness, volunteering, and study program in evaluating plastic waste sorting intentions and these factors were found to be statistically significant. Therefore, the results from this study add to the limited body of information on the application of TPB and other influencing factors in the study of plastic waste sorting in Nigeria. The findings also provide suggestions to current and prospective policymakers on the relevance of introducing waste sorting management practices such as recycling bins in Nigerian university premises and campaigns for waste sorting and recycling activities.
Highlights
Introduction among University StudentsNigeria has been facing environmental challenges in recent years [1]
This study collectively shows that perceived behavioral control (PBC), attitude and subjective norm contributed to 76.5% variance in plastic waste sorting intention
The significance of applying theory of planned behavior (TPB) as a foundation in understanding the underlying behavior of Nigerian students towards plastic waste sorting intention can be seen through the results of this study
Summary
Introduction among University StudentsNigeria has been facing environmental challenges in recent years [1]. One of the most disturbing is the exponential increase of municipal solid waste (MSW) production due to rapid urbanization (annual growth rate of above 2%) and population increase (estimated population to be more than 180 million in 2016 and still rising, with over 200 million residents in 2020 [2,3]). Between 1996–2014 approximately 4.4 million tons of plastic material have been imported into Nigeria [5] from other countries. Over 50% of 13 million tons of plastic produced between. 2015 and 2016 in Nigeria are single-use disposable plastic products, compounding the solid waste predicament [6]. Nigeria and other African countries affected by rapid population growth and poverty [7] are facing problems with massive MSW generation [8] and daily
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