Sustainable Waste Management in Cross River State: Assessing the Impacts of Recycling and Composting on Employment and Revenue Generation

Abstract

Waste management issues in Nigeria, particularly in Cross River State, endanger public health and the environment. Inadequate waste practices result in waste buildup in both urban and rural areas. Sustainable methods like recycling and composting can offer economic benefits, create jobs, and alleviate poverty. This study seeks to explore the potential of sustainable waste management practices, particularly recycling and composting, to not only mitigate the waste crisis but also to drive employment and revenue generation. This research adopted a survey research design, employing questionnaires to assess the impact of sustainable waste management practices on socio-economic development. The study targeted 336 respondents from diverse sectors and used multiple regression analysis to evaluate the relationship between waste management practices and socio-economic development. Data analysis considered the significance of coefficients and tested for multicollinearity. The study revealed that waste recycling, waste reuse, reclaimed waste, recycling business activity, and recycled products collectively have a significant impact on socio-economic development. Recycling business activity demonstrated the most significant contribution, while waste reuse showed the least. The results suggest that sustainable waste management practices play a crucial role in enhancing employment and revenue generation in Cross River State. This study underscores the positive impact of waste recycling and composting in Cross River State, Nigeria. It emphasizes the role of waste pickers, recycling's effectiveness, and composting's economic and environmental benefits. These practices reduce waste, create jobs, and promote sustainability, highlighting the need for sustainable waste management in Cross River State.