CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1. BACKGROUND OF STUDY

In most cities in Nigeria, waste management issues have become a glaring challenge. In recent years, there has been a phenomenal increase in the volume of wastes generated daily in the country (Olanrewaju & Ilemobade, 2009). This is due to the huge volume of waste generated in the cities on a daily basis which calls for proper handling in order to protect the environment and the population. Hoornweg (2009) emphasized that waste is inseparable from life because as long as man is alive, he stores up, uses, and disposes off materials and the complexity of waste which modern civilization produced is directly related to the living standard, socio-economic and cultural attributes of that particular environment.

Until recently , in most countries of the world, especially developing and transition countries and European social democracies, the management of waste has been considered to be the responsibility of the government, financed by general revenues. However, in recent years, partly as a result of austerity and structural adjustment policies and pressures from multilateral financial institutions, and partly as a result of pressures to limit taxes, various governments have increasingly focused on identifying specific revenue sources for waste management.

In Nigeria, the problem of waste management (WM) has been a concern which has existed for long in Lagos metropolis, Kaduna and in other big Nigerian cities (Ojeshina and Longe, 2006, Ayotomuno and Gobo, 2004). The management of waste is today one of the important obligatory functions of the Local Government Areas (LGAs) in the entire country. However, this very important and essential service had in the past gulped a lot of money out of the local authorities, that the sate governments’ intervention became necessary. The reason is not farfetched, the LGAs were not properly, technically and financially equipped to perform this statutory function well. The banes of the problem include but not limited to lack of financial resources, weak institutional and legal frame work. Others are inappropriate choice of technology, inadequate collection and transportation systems as well as unsafe final disposal options. The public confidence on the ability and the capability of the LGAs to play this statutory role diminished in the face of mounting heaps of refuse on major roads and highways. This is not without the ensuing environmental pollution that made the entire system unsatisfactory (Ojeshina and Longe, 2006; Longe and Kehinde, 2005). Even though the fundamental objectives of any solid waste management programme are to minimize environmental pollution, these goals become unachievable in the absence of sustained funding, affordable local technological option and lack of participatory approach to integrated solid waste management. Currently in Nigeria, household waste of different sources are mixed and co-disposed without any form of segregation and sorting (Longe and Williams, 2006). Household waste could contain hazardous and toxic waste such as expired drugs, dried cells, broken class, syringes and thus constitute serious environmental and health hazards (Delgado et al., 2007).

Willingness to pay for waste management services or facilities is very important to the success of the private sectors’ participation (PSP) in (SWM) program. The willingness to or not to pay could have direct impact (positive or negative) on the reliability and success of any solid waste management strategy (Epp and Mauger, 2009, Rahman et al., 2005). The question therefore has to do with the economics of household waste management especially in a developing economy like Nigeria. A number of models have been proposed on this issue (Jenkins, 2001; Skumatz and Beckinridge, 2000; Atri and Schellberg, 2005) just to mention a few. A theoretical general equilibrium model had been used to determine the optimal fees for household waste collection (Jenkins, 2001; Sigman, 2005). In their models, the consumers had two disposal options, garbage or recycling. The optimal fees for household waste collection equal the direct resource costs plus external environmental costs. Linderhof et al., 2001, based household waste collection charge on weight-based pricing in Oostzaan, Holland. Such a pricing cannot be used in developing countries where the actual volume of household waste arising is not known (Longe and Ukpebor, 2009). In Lagos State therefore, charges for household waste collection by government is based on direct charges of household.

The amount to be paid by households for their own waste removal is not based on the volume of the waste generated rather on the location and type of households. The bone of contention here is the fairness of the government’s decision on charges which therefore raises the readiness to pay or not to pay. The perception of one’s capability is said to set a limit to what to do and ultimately what can be achieved (Holland and Rosenberg, 2006). The influence of perception which describes how a person views himself and the world around him and how it tends to govern behaviour is explained by Anomie theory (Merton, 2008) which explains that deviance can arise by accepting culturally determined goals without the acceptability of cultural means. In this case it translates to either paying for SWM services or the total rejection of its cost recovery methods. This situation may be due to the difficulties posed by the institutionalized means, or deviance may arise through accepting the means but rejecting the goals, while sometimes it may involve rejection of both. A situation that may result is greater incidence of deviant behaviours towards SWM services as perceived or a total breakdown of waste control system. In this wise, individual’s perception of (touching issues of taxes revenues, government sincerity etc) will influence the cultural values, responses, and success of the solid waste management system. Hence, people’s perception on fees and on waste collection services is primordial for its willingness to pay. More importantly, when it is perceived by the people that waste services is paid for through taxes or even considered as a social service to be paid for by the government. Unwillingness to pay could lead to illicit burning and dumping, hence, in their model, Fullerton and Kinnaman (2005) were of the opinion that household collection should be subsidized in order to prevent such external environmental costs resulting from illegal dumping.

1. STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

As in many developing countries, waste management in Nigeria is a complex issue that has been a major issue on the priority list of successive governments, local authorities, and international donors in recent years. Waste management is a growing problem in Nigeria and despite large investments that have been made to meet the challenges of effective waste management in urban cities like Kaduna, there is little evidence that such efforts are having their expected effect. Although huge capital investment is required to improve waste management, social and behavioural factors are also important if waste management in local government areas is to be successful. The study asserted that in several Nigerian cities, garbage contributes substantially more than other components, this could be explained by the fact that most activities which affect the environment stem from the need for food; its production, processing and preparation Moreover, the high proportion of food remnants could be looked at from the fact that this component of waste encompasses all forms of food waste from both domestic and commercial origins. Oreyomi, (2008) maintained that improper disposal of solid waste poses serious danger to the handlers and the people living around the wastes as disposal sites carry along rodents, insects and other vermin, which could transmit diseases such as typhoid fever, dysentery, diarrhea, cholera, yaws, and other diseases. It is in this light that the current study aims to investigate waste disposal practices among household in Kastina ala L.G.A, Benue State.

1. AIMS AND OBJECTIVES

The main aim of this study is to investigate waste disposal practices in Kastina ala L.G.A, Benue State . Other specific objectives are:

1. to identify the waste disposal methods commonly used among household in Kastina ala L.G.A, Benue State
2. to investigate measures employed by the state government in controlling and encouraging of waste disposal in Kastina ala L.G.A, Benue State.
3. to determine the level of waste disposal practices among household in Kastina ala L.G.A, Benue State.
4. to evaluate the effects of each waste disposal method on the residential environment.
5. to identify the challenges of waste disposal practices among household in Kastina ala L.G.A, Benue State.
6. to proffer solution to the challenges of waste disposal practices among household in Kastina ala L.G.A, Benue State.
   1. RESEARCH QUESTIONS

1. What is the waste disposal methods commonly used among household in Kastina ala L.G.A, Benue State?
2. What are the measures employed by the state government in controlling and encouraging of waste disposal practices in Kastina ala L.G.A, Benue State?
3. What is the level of waste disposal practices among household in Kastina ala L.G.A, Benue State?
4. What are the effects of each waste disposal method on the residential environment?
5. What are the challenges of waste disposal practices among household in Kastina ala L.G.A, Benue State?
6. What is the solution to the challenges of waste disposal practices among household in Kastina ala L.G.A, Benue State?
   1. STATEMENT OF RESEARCH HYPOTHESIS

1. H0:  waste disposal practices in Kastina ala L.G.A, Benue State is effective.

2. H1: waste disposal practices in Kastina ala L.G.A, Benue State is not effective.

1. SIGNIFICANCE OF STUDY

The study will help the government of Nigeria especially the state government of Kaduna state on the importance of maintaining a good waste disposal practices as well as encourage every household to practice good waste disposal.

The findings of this study will serve as an enlightening tool to residents in Kaduna state on the importance of maintaining a good waste disposal culture for their health and to maintain a clean and conducive environment.

This study will enhance the Knowledge, attitude and practices of people regarding household Waste disposal.

The study will also serve as an eye opener to the government to make available waste bins and adequate measures in controlling of waste.

Finally, the study will be in the archive of research materials and can be used by other researchers who intend to investigate further on the subject matter.

1. SCOPE OF STUDY

The scope of this study will cover waste disposal practices among household in kastina ala L.G.A, Benue State.

1. LIMITATION OF STUDY

1. Financial constraint- Insufficient fund tends to impede the efficiency of the researcher in sourcing for the relevant materials, literature or information and in the process of data collection (internet, questionnaire and interview).

2. Time constraint- The researcher will simultaneously engage in this study with other academic work. This consequently will cut down on the time devoted for the research work.

1. DEFINITION OF TERMS

Waste: is disposable materials generated by households. This waste can be comprised of non-hazardous waste and hazardous waste. Non-hazardous waste can include food scraps, paper, bottles, etc. which can be recycled or composted.

Waste disposal: Removing and destroying or storing damaged, used or other unwanted domestic, agricultural or industrial products and substances. Disposal includes burning, burial at landfill sites or at sea, and recycling.

Practices: the actual application or use of an idea, belief, or method, as opposed to theories relating to it. "the principles and practice of teaching"

Among: situated more or less centrally in relation to (several other things).

Household: a house and its occupants regarded as a unit.