ASSESSMENT OF SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT TECHNIQUES IN OFFA, KWARA STATE

ABSTRACT The study aimed at assessing the solid waste management techniques in Offa, Kwara state with a view to formulating effective techniques for solid waste management in the study area. The objectives of this research are to identify the type of solid waste generated, examine the level of awareness of solid waste management technique, assess the level of household participation in solid waste management technique, identify the hazards of indiscriminate disposal of waste to the inhabitants and environment and identify the roles of agencies responsible for solid waste management. The primary data used for this study was sourced through observation, house hold survey, interviews, structured questionnaire. The questionnaire was administered on those involved in solid waste management while the secondary data include textbooks, journals, newspapers, articles, research work and unpublished scholarly works. Three hundred and eighty- four questionnaire was distributed but three hundred and eighty was returned. This study reveal that majority of the respondent in the study area are females, The number of household of the respondent are majorly between 1-4 person, the types of waste generated and it indicate that 17.1%, 19.0% and 21.6% generate organic waste, plastic waste and paper waste respectively. 7.6% generate metal waste, while 12.3%, 9.0% and 13.4% generate glass waste, medical and hazardous waste. Majority of the respondent are very familiar with solid waste management techniques and the techniques include waste reduction techniques, reuse technique and recycling technique respectively, composting technique, incineration and landfilling technique respectively. It also reveal that the respondent participate majorly in recycling techniques, the disposal method use by the respondent is the use of open ground and their waste is dispose off twice in a week. Recommendations such as the public should be educated regarding waste minimization techniques, There should be more effective involvement of the private sector and greater integration of the informal sector and since residents’ attitude towards payments is poor, it is highly recommended that better means of collection of waste charges be developed in the study area.