Waste to energy conversion: a perspective from adult learners in South-East Nigeria

Abstract

The study identified waste categories that can be turned into energy, energy conversion techniques, and ways that these techniques could support a circular economy in South East Nigeria from the viewpoint of adult learners. In the study, a descriptive survey design was employed. The study was directed by three research questions and two hypotheses. There were 67731 adult learners in the population. The study included a sample size of 605 participants. Mean, t-test, and Pearson correlation were used to examine the data, which was collected using questionnaires. The results showed that wood, sawdust leaves and bark of trees, paper and cardboard, food remains like vegetable stock, yam peels, among others, were the types of waste that can be converted to energy. The study found out that combustion technology, gasified technology, and anaerobic digestion, among others, were some of the waste to energy conversion techniques. The study also noted that waste to conversion techniques foster circular economy. The paper recommends that the government should display political will by designing and enacting laws that facilitate the development of indigenous waste-to-energy conversion technology. This way, even at the household level, these technologies will be inexpensive and accessible.