EFFECTIVE WASTE MANAGEMENT STRATEGY IN STUDENTS HOSTEL IN TERTIARY INSTITUTIONS IN NIGERIA, A CASE STUDY OF UNIVERSITY OF NIGERIA NSUKKA

Nweke, Ifeanyi Emmanuel and Ajibo Henry

ABSTRACT

Waste management (waste disposal) includes the activities and actions required to manage waste from its inception to its final disposal. This includes the collection, transport, treatment and disposal of waste, together with monitoring and regulation of the waste management process. The study aims to explore effective waste management strategy in student’s hostels in tertiary institutions in Nigeria. The study was guided by the administration control theory. Cross-sectional survey design was adopted, and simple random sampling was used to select the 204 respondents across the selected study area. The instrument for data collection was questionnaire and data generated was analyzed using the statistical package for social sciences (SPSS). Chi-square statistical analysis was employed to test the relationship between variables. Finding from this study revealed that installation of waste bins (56.9%) at the hostel was the major waste management strategy adopted by the hostel authority. The waste management strategies in UNN hostels were significantly perceived to be ineffective (54.4%). The ineffectiveness of waste management strategies in UNN hostels was majorly attributed to the following: far distance between student hostel rooms and waste bins (47.5%), inadequate waste collection and disposal services (31.4%) and lack of awareness on waste management rules (54.4%). The study, there recommends that school authority in collaboration with environmental social workers should come up with implementable policies that would make waste disposal easy, safe and effective. Social workers should also engage in advocacy for adequate provision of waste disposal equipment and education geared to inculcate into the student the values of engaging in appropriate waste management and disposal practices.

Keywords: Effective Waste Management Strategy, University Student Hostels, Social Workers, Nigeria.