ASSESSMENT OF SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT PRACTICES,CHALLENGES AND IMPROVEMENT STRATEGIES FORHOUSEHOLDS AND WASTE MANAGERS IN SOUTHSOUTH NIGERIAS. I. C. DIBIA, A. AVULA, M. BONIFACE, A.O. ORJI, M.O. KALU, S.C. EZE-UFODIAMA, A. IBHAFIDON, O.K. ONYEKWERE, W. YOHANNA, G. AZUONWU AND T.E. IWUAGWUAbstract Studies have shown that poor solid waste management has remained a major threat to public health as well as a causal risk factor for environmental degradation. This study assessed solid waste management practices, challenges and improvement strategies for households and waste managers in South-South Nigeria. A cross-sectional study was conducted from November, 2020 through April, 2021 at the households and environmental sanitation agencies in the six States that make up South South Nigeria. Data were collected in the process using structured questionnaires. The final sample was 469 participants, of which 392 responded to questions pertaining to households while 77 responded to questions pertaining to waste managers. Findings reveal that more than half of households adopted good solid waste management practices. Majority of the respondents experienced serious challenges in managing solid waste at the household level. Majority of waste managers experience challenges in solid waste management in South South Nigeria. Majority of waste managers agreed with the suggested improvement strategies for solid waste management at the household level. Education level and marital status were significantly associated with solid waste management practices at household level. Education level was also significantly associated with challenges of solid waste management practices at household level. Many members of the Zone may be willing to participate in measures aimed at improving solid waste management in their community, thus, government and other stakeholders in the scheme need to continue to organize community-integrated programmes and awareness campaigns on solid waste storage, separation, collection, transportation and final disposal. |