WASTE TO WEALTH: THE CASE FOR SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT IN THE CORE OF ADO EKITI, NIGERIA

Abstract

The study considered the generation of wealth from solid waste with a view to ensuring sustainable solid waste management in the city core area of Ado-Ekiti, Nigeria. Solid waste management is basically concerned with the generation, transportation and deposition of waste. The study was conducted using questionnaire administration for the purpose of fulfilling the objectives of the study. The study was a survey design that adopted a mixed method that combines qualitative and quantitative approaches. Three hundred and sixteen (316) copies of questionnaire were administered to collect data from the Data Delineation Area (DDA) using Systematic Sampling Technique to distribute the copies of questionnaire administered on residents to gather data. In addition to this, 38 staff members of the Ekiti State Waste Management Authority (EKS-WAMA) were sampled. The collected data were analysed using Statistical Package for Social Science Version 16 and Microsoft Excel 2007. The questionnaire provided information on socio-economic characteristics of respondents and issues related to waste management in the study area. Multiple Regression Analysis revealed that there is significant relationship between the solid waste generated in the study area and products that can be generated from it to create wealth. It was further found out that majority of the wastes generated in the study area were from residential areas and were solids. It was also revealed that majority of the respondents disposed their wastes through the Waste Management Authority established by the Ekiti State Government to manage wastes in Ado-Ekiti the State Capital. The study discovered that the Government purchased some sophisticated compactor trucks to facilitate the service delivery of EKS-WAMA in the study area. It was also revealed that iron, cans and plastics were the major categories of wastes which can be harnessed to generate wealth in the study area. To effectively manage wastes to create wealth in the study area, recommendations were made based on the findings of the study. These included: the need for implementation of the 4Rs principle of waste management- reduction, reuse, recycling and recovery; embarking on waste recycling, adequate funding and re-introduction of sanitary inspectors (Wole Wole) to enforce environmental sanitation in the study area.