Determinants of solid waste management practices among households in Makurdi Local Government Area

Makurdi Local Government Area, which doubles as the capital city of Benue State, has continued to tussle with poor solid waste disposal practices with significant implications for the environment and health of people. This study assessed determinants of solid waste management practices among households, examined the factors influencing poor solid waste disposal practices among households, and examined the effects of disposal practices in the area. Social Cognitive Theory (SCT) was utilized. Survey design was adopted, and participants were selected through a multistage sampling technique. Questionnaire and Key Informant Interview (KII) guides were used to generate data. The data were analyzed using frequency tables, the chi-square test, and content analysis as appropriate. Poor knowledge, lack of access to waste collection services, cost of disposal services, distance to dump sites, nature of generated waste, lack of dumpsters in communities, difficulty in locating approved dump sites, and inadequate waste collection coverage by BENSESA were found to influence poor solid waste disposal practices. Blockage of drainages, emission of bad odor, exposure to vector-borne and other diseases, water pollution, conducive environment for breeding of vectors, creating unattractive sites, and soil erosion were effects of poor waste disposal practices in Makurdi. The study recommended that the Benue State Government, through the Environmental and Sanitation Authority (BENSESA) and partnership with NGOs, should make provision for dumpsters for dumping of solid waste for final collection, evacuation and safe disposal.