Interrogating Waste Management and Sustainable Development of Ebonyi State

The study examined waste management and sustainable development of Ebonyi State. The specific objectives of the study were to: evaluate the effect of recycling initiatives on sustainable development of Ebonyi State, ascertain the effect of Waste-to-Energy (WtE) on sustainable development of Ebonyi State and examine the effect of Material Recovery Facilities (MRFs) on sustainable development of Ebonyi State. The study adopted a survey research design. The population of the study was 968,300. The sample size for the study was 400. The Chi-square test was applied in testing the hypotheses. The finding revealed that Recycling initiatives have a significant effect on the sustainable development of Ebonyi State, that Waste-to-Energy (WtE) projects have a significant effect on the sustainable development of Ebonyi State and that Material Recovery Facilities (MRFs) have a significant effect on the sustainable development of Ebonyi State. The study concluded that effective waste management is pivotal to the sustainable development of Ebonyi State. Implementing innovative waste management strategies, including recycling initiatives, Waste-to-Energy (WtE) projects, and Material Recovery Facilities (MRFs), significantly enhances environmental sustainability, resource conservation, and economic growth. Recycling and WtE technologies reduce landfill use, conserve energy, and lower greenhouse gas emissions, while MRFs improve recycling efficiency and support local employment. The study recommends among others that to expand and improve recycling infrastructure across Ebonyi State to increase material recovery rates. Invest in public education campaigns to raise awareness and encourage active participation in recycling initiatives, thus boosting overall environmental sustainability.