SOCIO-ECONOMICS VARIABLES AND SOLID WASTE GENERATION AND MANAGEMENT IN PORT HARCOURT METROPOLIS

Abstract

Some select socio–economic variables of solid waste generation and management were investigated in the entire 20 wards of Port Harcourt Metropolis, Rivers State, Nigeria. This was done in order to gauge the effects of socio-economic factors such as income, size of the family, employment status, educational qualification, packaging and disposal techniques on waste generation and management and to produce adequate information for waste planners. The 20 wards of Port Harcourt were grouped into three zones representative of building patterns, population density and preconceived social classifications. The zones are low (low density population), medium (medium density population) and high zone (highly populated areas). Questionnaires were distributed to 133 respondents in each of the classified zones; a total 399 questionnaires were distributed.  Data were analyzed using Analyses of Variance (ANOVA) and correlation analyses with the aid of SPSS software. Results showed that there were significant differences (p=0.05) between zones in parameters such as income, educational qualification, family size and employment status; the low zone had higher incomes, employment levels, educational status but lower family sizes than the middle and high zones. Also Income was positively correlated with amount of waste generated (p=0.05. r=0.113), educational qualification was positively correlated with waste generated (p=0.05, r= 0.342) income was negatively correlated with size of family (p=0.01, r=0.327). The result also indicated that people in the high zone having low incomes are likely to deposit anywhere and anyhow. This study therefore accepts that solid waste generation and management is a function of income, educational attainment and household size. Based on the findings from this research, it can be concluded that the problem of waste generation and management is simply tied to the socio-economics of the populace in Port Harcourt. Therefore the management of waste lies in addressing socio-economic issues and inequalities.