RESIDENTS' PERCEPTION OF SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT IN AKURE ONDO STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

This study appraised residents’ perception of solid waste management in Akure, Nigeria. It assessed the activities and factors hindering the performance ofOndo State Waste Management Authority (OSWMA) in their coverage area. This research identified the nature of solid waste generated in the study area by the clients. It also studied the institutional effectiveness vis-à-vis methods used in managing waste in the study area and possible constraints faced by the waste management agency in the discharge of duties were also examined.The research methods include in-depth fieldwork, observation, questionnaire administration, interviews, collation and processing of field data. The research instrument was the questionnaire administered with the aid of simple random sampling. Two sets of questionnaire were used; one was administered on the staff of the Authority and the second on the client served by the Authority. A total of number fifty-three (53) copies of the first set of questionnaire were administered on the staff of the Authority, while three hundred and twenty four (324) copies of the questionnaire were administered to the clients served by OSWMA. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used to analyze data collected for the study.Data analysis on staff reveals that those with less number of years of experience (6-10) years has the highest percentage (45.4%) and this means that only a few officers have much experience in the field. A critical observation of the sponsorship structure shows that the government takes the lion– share (72.7%) of the responsibility in terms of management, equipment and payment of staff salaries. The study established that majority of respondents (54.5%) were of the view that the mode of collecting solid waste is door to door collection, also the study reveals that the methodof waste disposal used by the Authority is sanitary land fill which accounted for (63.6%) and this is followed by open dump. The findings show that 72.7% of the waste managed by OSWMA is solid waste.Also,data analysis on clients reveals that 47.4% and 45.4% of the respondents in the study area were of the view that waste collection andwaste disposal strategies used by OSWMA are fairly effective respectively. The study established that the major challenges faced by the institution include inadequate equipment and staff, illegal dumping of refuse and non-compliance by the clients.It could be deduced that the years of experience of the staff of the Authority has great impact on their general performance. The study recommends that the Authority should rehabilitate the land fill site, come up with the means of better and effective way of transporting waste, and government should assist in funding of the Authority.