Abstract:
Purpose – In less than a decade to sustainable development goals (SDGs) there is a threat of household
waste emanating from sub-urban sprawl especially in developing countries. Private approaches with
government-enabling environments have been proved a successful platform for urban services such as
housing provision and telecommunication in developing cities. Still private solid waste management (PSWM)
seems different in Nigeria. Therefore, this paper aims to investigate the possible perceived hindrances facing
PSWM organisations and proffer feasible policies to enhance sustainable clean and healthy cities.
Design/methodology/approach – Seven communities within Benin City sub-urban environs were adopted
as the study area to accomplish the research’s objectives via a phenomenology type of qualitative research design.
The study analysed the collated data from the knowledgeable participants via a thematic approach.
Findings – Lax legislative, absence of institutional framework, inadequate economic motivation, inadequate
technical operations, among others, emerged as the encumbrances faced by PSWM firms. Wastes dumped along
unethical locations such as streets, roads, uncompleted buildings, culverts and drainage channels, and undeveloped
plots emerged as the encumbrance outcomes. Findings show that proffering feasible policy solutions to tackle
identified hindrances can promote the achievement of SDGs across semi-urban locations in Nigeria.
Research limitations/implications – This research is restricted to urban household waste
management by PSWM within Nigeria. Also, the study identified the challenges and proffer policy solutions
to enhance improved clean environment within the sub-urban and urban cities.
Practical implications – As part of this study’s implications, results from this research intend to guide
government policymakers and PSWM firms to encourage collaboration in designing appropriate strategic
and educational programmes for the householders (customers) in sub-cities. It will be achieved via feasible
policies that are tailored towards achieving sustainable health and environment-friendly sub-urban locations.
Originality/value – This paper intends to enhance proper PSWM and create sustainable cities via
collaboration. Also, the paper engaged key stakeholders via a qualitative research design to proffer possible
solutions to the menace of sub-urban and urban household waste management.
