Waste Management Motivational Factors in Bayelsa State

Abstract

The solid waste management problem in Nigeria is enormous. Heaps of waste can be seen all over the country's roadsides, in its bodies of water, and in other unoccupied places resulting in a series of health and environmental problems. This research evaluates possible waste management motivational factors in the state of Bayelsa. A semi-structured questionnaire was used to gather the primary data, which was distributed to households at the headquarters of the eight Local Government Areas (LGAs) of the state. The secondary data was based on a review of the existing literature. Content analysis was utilized for the secondary data, while SPSS was used to analyze the primary data. The results of this study show that waste separation, reuse, recycling, and composting are only performed by a handful of people in the state. Waste management in the state is marred by inadequate central waste collection points, poor city planning, inadequate funding, inadequate enlightenment, unfavorable attitude of the people toward waste management, absence of waste management facilities, inadequate enforcement of laws, absence of engineered landfills and the existence of illegal dumpsites around the state, and inadequately trained personnel. Understanding the problem in question affects the intentions and behavior of Bayelsa's citizens in different ways, which further affects their action or inaction. The individual's assumption of responsibility is paramount to their performance. Execution and implementation of effective waste collection services statewide could motivate citizens to dispose of their waste properly. Citizens' behavior toward waste management could be determined by how well they know and understand the current management strategies, their gender and social class, the availability of current waste collection and disposal infrastructures, and existing policies and laws.