Public Awareness and Attitude on Municipal Solid Waste Management: A Case of University of Benin, Ugbowo Campus, Benin City

Abstract

University of Benin, Benin city was investigated as a sub municipality to determine the awareness and attitude of the people towards solid waste management. Interviews were conducted that focused on available dumpsite, frequency of waste collection and methods of managing the waste. A total of 303 questionnaires were distributed using stratified systematic method to ensure appropriate representation in the population and 293 responses were received. The result revealed that 63.9% of the residents make use of waste managers to dispose waste but a significant 30% still burn their waste. In addition, it was established that 60.8% of residents pay for waste disposal, 87.9% of the business respondents patronize waste managers and pay, while 26.3% of the administrative and academic offices pay for waste disposal. Further investigation showed that 78.5% of residents were not sorting their waste and 52.7% were not willing to sort. 52.1% of business owners were not also willing to sort their waste. The attitude of residence regarding waste management is unfavorable to human health and environmental sustainability; hence, effort should be made to improve interaction and communication between waste generators and waste managers. Also, more should be done to establish a strategy that involves educating people, developing the knowledge and confidence that is necessary for them to actively participate in proper solid waste management process.