Community-Based Approach for Promoting Sustainable Plastic Waste Management in Oyo State

Plastic waste has become a significant global environmental and public health issue due to its high production volume. In Nigeria, the disposal and recycling of plastic waste are poorly managed. This study evaluated the knowledge, practices, and determinants of plastic waste management among residents in Ogbomoso North Local Government Area of Oyo State. A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted with 300 respondents, selected through a multi-stage sampling technique, using an intervieweradministered questionnaire. Data analysis was performed with IBM SPSS Version 22, employing the Chisquare test for associations between categorical variables, and logistic regression to identify sociodemographic determinants. The significance level was set at p < 0.05. The results showed that 189 respondents (63%), particularly those aged 21-30, had good knowledge of plastic waste management, while 111 (37%) had poor knowledge. However, only 34 respondents (11.3%) demonstrated good practices. Key socio-demographic determinants of waste management practices included marital and educational status. The study suggests that efforts should focus on unmarried individuals and those with lower education to improve plastic waste management practices. The Government is also urged to consider banning singleuse plastics to reduce environmental pollution.