The Role of Public Participation in Organic Waste Management

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5.3 Study Question Three

5.4 Study Question Four

5.5 Study Question Five

5.6 Chapter Summary

CHAPTER 6: CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS

REFERENCES

BIBLIOGRAPHY

APPENDICES

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CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION

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Introduction

The present study aims at providing an understanding of the reasons behind the low public participation in environment sanitation with specific reference to organic waste management in Abuja, Nigeria. In achieving the aim, the present study identifies the factors influencing the Nigerian public response to environmental sanitation issues on organic waste management. It is evident that there is low public participation in environmental sanitation within various economies across the globe. This study achieves four main objectives of gathering and analyse evidence that give an understanding on public understanding in respect to environmental sanitation issues, identifying and describing significant obstacles and factors inhibiting public participation in environmental sanitation, identifying factors likely to increase public participation in environmental sanitation, and establishing criteria on possible solutions to overcome obstacles to public participation. By achieving the set objectives, the study will be very significant to both academicians and policy makers. Whereas the academicians will be able to conduct more studies confirming the results and findings of the present study whilst using the present study as a foundation for more research, the policy makers will be able to develop effective policies and programmes capable of encouraging and enhancing public participation in organic waste management.

Through various chapters, the present study achieves its aims and objectives. There are six chapters, namely, introduction, literature review, research methods, findings and analysis, discussion, and conclusions and recommendations. The introductory chapter provides background of the study, statement of the problem, research aims and objectives, significance of the study, structure of the dissertation, and a summary of the chapter. The following sections of the introductory chapter provide a further understanding of the entire research study.

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Statement of the Problem

The State Environment Agency and the Health Department of local authorities responsible for managing waste and preventing pollution from indiscriminate waste disposal do not have adequate resources. Due to relative inexperience and lack of skilled personnel and resources to adequately perform the role of monitoring and enforcement, their efforts have made little impact on environmental protection and public health (Cointreau-Levine, 1994). Instead of proactive measures such as raising awareness and involving the public in waste prevention, the Local authorities tend rely on waste collection and disposal to landfill. Staff not sufficiently skilled and resourced to deal with organic waste management adequately and it is no surprise that the reliance on reactive measures has made little impact with regard to improving cleanliness of the environment.

In order to favourably influence the participation of the Nigerian public in organic waste management and organic waste in particular, a full understanding of the reasons for their earlier noted low participation of the public in organic waste management and sanitation issues is required. Also required is an appreciation of the factors that influence public participation and response to environmental sanitation issues, including presence or absence of appropriate facilities, policy for waste disposal, and low awareness of problems associated with poor organic waste management such as water contamination, odour, unsightliness etc. Bridging the information gap and understanding the challenges to the Nigerian public participation in organic waste management will be helpful in developing appropriate measures and behaviour-modifying measures (Imam et al., 2008; Adewole 2009) This approach may strengthen and, indeed complement the current organic waste management strategy in the country.

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Research Aims, Objectives and Questions

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Research Aims and Objectives

This research aims to provide an understanding of the reasons for the low public participation in environmental sanitation issues, and organic waste management in particular, through an identification of the factors influencing the Nigerian public response to environmental sanitation issues. This reflects a conviction that understanding these key influences would enable the identification of approaches, including policy and managerial mechanisms for improving the overall environmental sanitation issues in Nigeria.

The specific objectives of the study include:

- To gather and analyse evidence to assess public understanding of environmental sanitation issues in Abuja, Nigeria;

- To identify and describe in an objective way, any significant obstacles or factors that inhibit public participation in environmental sanitation and organic waste management;

- To identify factors that may increase public participation in environmental sanitation and organic waste management, and ascertain the measures and support programmes that might encourage public participation organic waste management in particular and environmental sanitation in general; and

- To establish criteria which possible solutions would need to achieve to overcome such obstacles to public participation.

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Research Questions

The main research question is what are the reasons for the low public participation in environmental sanitation issues with special focus to organic waste management? The specific research questions of the study include:

- What is the level of public involvement in environmental sanitation issues in Abuja, Nigeria?