ANALYSIS OF GENERATION AND DISPOSAL OF PLASTIC WASTES IN SELECTED URBAN AREAS OF ABIA STATE, NIGERIA

This study investigates Urban Plastic Waste (UPW) management in selected urban areas of Abia State, Nigeria, addressing a key gap in literature regarding the economic and environmental dimensions of plastic waste activities. The objectives were to quantify collected plastic waste, identify key actors in the UPW sector, classify types of plastic waste collected, examine the relationship between the socio-economic characteristics of UPW generators (UPWGs) and their adopted waste collection systems, and evaluate the economic and environmental benefits derived from plastic waste activities. The study employed both exploratory and descriptive research designs, utilizing questionnaires, interviews, and field observations to gather primary data. Analytical methods included Multinomial Logistic Regression, Analysis of Variance (ANOVA), and Redundancy Analysis (RDA) using CANOCO 5.0 software. Findings indicated that all socio-economic characteristics, apart from age, significantly influenced the choice of plastic waste collection systems. RDA results showed strong associations between UPWGs and their preferred operating environments, while ANOVA revealed significant variations in waste quantities collected across urban areas. The study recommends establishing local plastic recycling industries to reduce transportation costs and generate employment, incorporating waste valorization sites into urban planning, and formally recognizing UPW actors as key stakeholders in sustainable municipal waste management.