URBAN HOUSEHOLDS’ PERCEPTION AND WILLINGNESS-TO-PAY FOR SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT SERVICES IN ONDO STATE, NIGERIA.

Abstract

This study examined urban households’ perception and willingness to pay for solid waste management services in Ondo State. The study specifically described the socio-economic characteristics of urban households’ in the study area; identify methods of disposing solid waste in the study area; determine factors influencing major solid waste method adopted or preferred by the households in solid waste disposal in the study area; determine the factors affecting respondents’ awareness level to the effects of indiscriminate waste disposal in the study area; examine households’ perception on the effects of indiscriminate waste disposal in the study area; assess determinants of willingness-to-pay for solid waste management services among the respondents; and examine constraints militating against the use of formal solid waste management services in the study area. A multi-stage sampling procedure was employed to select 150 respondents who were interviewed, 25 in each of the selected 6 Local Governments Area within the three Senatorial Zones of Ondo State. Data were analysed using Descriptive statistics, Likert Scale, Ordered Probit, Multinomial Logit Regression and Logit Regression Model. The findings of the study revealed that majority of the respondents were male (60%) and had an average age of 45 years showing they were within their active and productive age. Also, with household size mean of 5 and average years of schooling was about 13 years which means majority had at least secondary education while the monthly income of the respondents was calculated to be approximately ₦80,000 which means each household earns within the average monthly income and can afford to pay for the services. The study identified burning as a method most widely accepted and preferred by households in disposing their solid waste and it was influenced by education, income and proximity to dumping site at 5% level of significant. As regards the awareness and perception, a high percentage of the respondents (over 80%) were aware of the services and the effects of waste mismanagement on environmental and aquatic pollution and breeding of diseases in our environment. The study highlighted income, household size and knowledge to be factors influencing respondents’ willingness to pay for solid waste services at 1% level of significant among others which were age, years of formal education and membership of an environmental association significantly at 1%, 10% and 5% respectively. The positive sign shows that an increase in the explanatory variable will increase the likelihood of respondents’ willingness to pay for solid waste management in Ondo State.