Abstract:
The main purpose of waste management is to isolate waste from humans and the
environment, and consequently, safeguard individual, family and community health. This
cross-sectional survey was carried out in order to study practices and attitudes of New Karu
residents regarding household waste disposal and to examine their opinion regarding
government effort towards waste management in New-Karu. Findings of the study revealed
that waste in the study area is predominantly disposed of by open dumping and burning. It
was also revealed that relevant government agencies have failed to adequately provide waste
collection, transportation and processing services to the people. On the part of residents,
majority of respondents perceive cleaning the environment as sole responsibility of waste
management agencies of government. To help reduce the problem of improper waste
disposal, it was recommended that government should embark on public enlightenment
campaigns to create awareness about the benefits of environmental sanitation, provide
appropriate waste management facilities, integrate the services of private waste collectors
into waste management operations and ensure strict enforcement of existing environmental
sanitation and protection laws.
