Interrogating Waste Management and Sustainable Development of Ebonyi State

Abstract

The study examined waste management and sustainable
development of Ebonyi State. The specific objectives of
the study were to: evaluate the effect of recycling
initiatives on sustainable development of Ebonyi State,
ascertain the effect of Waste-to-Energy (WtE) on
sustainable development of Ebonyi State and examine
the effect of Material Recovery Facilities (MRFs) on
sustainable development of Ebonyi State. The study
adopted a survey research design. The population of the
study was 968,300. The sample size for the study was
400. The Chi-square test was applied in testing the
hypotheses. The finding revealed that Recycling
initiatives have a significant effect on the sustainable
development of Ebonyi State, that Waste-to-Energy
(WtE) projects have a significant effect on the
sustainable development of Ebonyi State and that
Material Recovery Facilities (MRFs) have a significant
effect on the sustainable development of Ebonyi State.
The study concluded that effective waste management is
pivotal to the sustainable development of Ebonyi State.
Implementing innovative waste management strategies,
including recycling initiatives, Waste-to-Energy (WtE)
projects, and Material Recovery Facilities (MRFs),
significantly enhances environmental sustainability,
resource conservation, and economic growth. Recycling
and WtE technologies reduce landfill use, conserve
energy, and lower greenhouse gas emissions, while
MRFs improve recycling efficiency and support local
employment. The study recommends among others that
to expand and improve recycling infrastructure across
Ebonyi State to increase material recovery rates. Invest
in public education campaigns to raise awareness and
encourage active participation in recycling initiatives,
thus boosting overall environmental sustainability.