ASSESSMENT OF COMMUNITY-BASED WASTE MANAGEMENT METHODS IN AKOKO SOUTH WEST LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA OF ONDO STATE, NIGERIA

Inappropriate methods of solid waste management are becoming challenging environmental issues in Nigeria with particular reference to Akoko South West Local Government Area of Ondo State. The persistence of these problems has necessitated a shift toward a more sustainable and community-based approach by implementing reduces reuse and recycle of solid waste. This study appraised the nature of waste generated and method of waste disposal adopted in the study area with a view of providing community-based sustainable approach to solid waste management. This research adopted descriptive survey method. Systematic random sampling technique was used to sample 455 household head in the study area. The stated hypotheses were tested at 5% level of significance using one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA), while the research questions were addressed with the use of descriptive analysis of simple percentage. The study observed a statistically significance difference between type of waste generated and method of waste disposal system in Akoko South West. The study revealed that tin/can (29%), plastic bag/bottle (28%) and paper/carton (23%) were the main types of waste generated in the study area. It also identified four methods of waste disposal: open burning (70.1%), dumping of waste into the open-drainage during rainfall (18%), burying of waste (9%) and dumping of waste at the collection point (2.9%). It was generally observed that majority of residents in the study area lack relevant technical knowledge on recycling of solid management. The study therefore recommended a shift in local or traditional strategy towards a sustainable approach by embracing solid waste reduction, reuse and recycling, and government funding be forthcoming to make necessary infrastructure improvements