Awareness of Government-provided Solid Waste Management Services in Osun State

Abstract

Awareness of proper solid waste management is a determining factor in residents’ willingness to participate in sustainable waste management practices. This study investigated the residents’ awareness of the government-provided solid waste management (SWM) services in Osun State with a view to raising the implications of effective and efficient SWM. A city in each of the senatorial districts of the state was selected for study. Using multi-stage sampling techniques, 403 household heads were surveyed with 157, 139, and 107 in Osogbo, Ile-Ife, and Ede, respectively. The data collected were analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics. The study showed that many of the respondents had a high level of education, which is a significant factor that influenced their ability to be aware of the SWM service. Most of the respondents in the study area were aware of the SWM services put in place by the government through OWMA, in which Osogbo, which is the state capital, had the highest percentage of respondents who were aware. However, the major source through which the respondents became aware of the OWMA services in Osogbo, Ile-Ife, and Ede was through seeing the solid waste collection vehicles which is not effective enough to educate the residents on the importance of proper solid waste management, the need to put the SWM service provided by OWMA to use and the major roles to play for proper usage. As a result of this, the observed patronage level of the service is low.