EFFECTS OF TRAINING AND PROVISION OF COLLECTION BIN ON SOURCE-SEPARATION OF SOLID WASTES AMONG WORKERS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF IBADAN, NIGERIA

Abstract

Source-separation is a solid waste management strategy which aids recycling. In Nigeria, only a little is known about this practice and the characteristics of solid wastes generated in institutions of higher learning. The study therefore characterised solid wastes generated in non-residential areas of the University of Ibadan and assessed the effects of a training intervention and provision of a refuse bin on workers' practice of source-separation. A quasi-experimental design was adopted with workers of Students' Union Building (SUB) serving as experimental group (EG), while those at Works Department (WD) and Faculty of Social Sciences (FSS) constituted the control group (CG). The non-residential areas of SUB , WD and FSS were purposively selected. The EG and CG constituted of 180 and 168 workers respectively. A validated questionnaire with a 5-point knowledge scale was used to collect data at baseline from the two groups on source-separation of solid wastes. Wastes generated in the three locations were weighed and their physico-chemical characteristics determined using the standard methods. A fabricated waste bin with three compartments was placed only at the SUB (EG) and the workers there were trained on its utilisation for source-separation of solid wastes. the CG was left to continue with the usual practice of waste collection without source-separation. At the end of the one-month intervention, a post-intervention data collection from the two groups was conducted with the same questionnaire used at baseline. Descriptive statistics and t-test were used to analyse data. Participants' mean age was 30±8.9 years. Mean baseline knowledge scores of EG and CG were 2.2±1.5 and 1.6±1.1 respectively with no significant difference. Mean baseline knowledge score of EG (2.2±1.5) was compared with its post-intervention mean score of 3.0±1.3 (p<0.05). A similar operation was done among the CG and no significant difference was noted in its baseline mean score of 1.6±1.1 and the post-intervention score of 1.9±0.6. The difference between the two groups' post-intervention mean scores of 3.0± 1.3 and 1.9±0.6 was significant (p<0.05). The proportion of the EG that separated their waste at baseline and after intervention were 2.2% and 30.0% respectively (p<0.05), while those of the CG that separated their waste at baseline and after intervention were 12.9% and 17.3% respectively with no significant difference. The mean weekly recyclable wastes generated in the three locations were:246.9±21.4kg (food wastes), 111.7±10.6kg (plastics) and 156.5±10.3kg (paper). The mean values of the chemical constituents of the generated food wastes were: 2.7±0.59%, 2.1±0.77% and 3.4±0.72% (nitrogen) for SUB, WD and FSS respectively with no significant difference; 0.1±0.03%, 0.1±0.03% and 0.1±0.04% (phosphorus) for SUB, WD and FSS respectively with no significant difference; and 0.3±0.04%, 0.2±0.05% and 0.2±0.03% (potassium) for SUB, WD and FSS respectively and no significant difference was observed. The training and provision of a collection bin was effective in facilitating the practice of source-separation among the Experimental Group. Therefore, advocacy, training and provision of refuse bins are needed to promote the adoption of source-separation in the institution.