WASTE DISPOSAL PRACTICES AMONG STUDENTS IN MADONNA UNIVERSITY NIGERIA, ELELE, RIVERS STATE

This study assessed the waste disposal practices among students of Madonna University, Elele, Rivers State, with a focus on identifying behavioral trends based on age, gender, and year of study. Using a descriptive cross-sectional survey design, 380 students were selected through multistage sampling. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire and analyzed with SPSS Version 30. Findings revealed that although 68.7% of respondents reported always disposing of waste in provided bins, a significant 17.6% admitted to rarely or never using appropriate waste disposal methods. Based on gender, 54.3% of male students exhibited good waste disposal practices, compared to 62.8% of females, indicating a slightly higher compliance rate among female students. Age-based analysis showed that students aged 20–24 years demonstrated the highest adherence to proper disposal (65.3%), followed by those aged 15–19 years (61.5%), while students aged 25 years and above had the lowest adherence rate (53.2%). Regarding year of study, second-year students showed the highest rate of proper waste disposal at 70.9%, while sixth-year students recorded the lowest at 47.3%. The overall mean score for students’ waste disposal practices was 3.24, which surpasses the benchmark of 3.0, signifying a generally good level of compliance across the population. However, the study identified infrastructural challenges such as inadequate placement of waste bins and irregular collection as barriers to proper disposal. These findings underscore the need for reinforced environmental education, infrastructural upgrades, and policy enforcement within the university. The study concludes by recommending institution-led waste management programs, student-led environmental campaigns, and regular monitoring to foster sustainable practices.