Assessment of plastic waste generation and management in residential locations, Ilorin, Nigeria: DPSIR analysis and circular economy pathway

The growing problem of plastic waste in Nigeria is one of the major environmental issues, primarily influenced by population growth, urbanization, and industrialization. To tackle this problem, this study assessed plastic waste generation and management in Ilorin township, focusing on Gaa-Akanbi and Tanke Oke-Odo residential locations. The study revealed that the average plastic waste generated per capita was estimated at 0.16 kg/cap/day in Gaa-Akanbi and 0.29 kg/cap/day in Tanke Oke-Odo. Furthermore, the composition of plastic waste differed in these areas, with Gaa-Akanbi having a majority of Polyethylene (PE) at 57.05%, followed by Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) at 12.83%, Polystyrene (PS) at 12.25%, Polypropylene (PP) at 11.08%, and other types at 6.76%. On the other hand, Tanke Oke-Odo's plastic waste composition consisted of PE (56.28%), PET (15.73%), PS (12.21%), PP (9.65%), and other types (6.12%). Alarmingly, the study found that most residents were using unsustainable waste disposal practices, with 28% handing their waste to collectors, 11% relying on municipal collection bins, 10% resorting to open dumping, and a significant 51% burning their plastic waste, all of which contribute to environmental pollution. Furthermore, excluding investigations on the household waste generation rate for Gaa-akanbi and the generation rate for plastic waste, all other studies showed that p values > 0.05 as confirmed with the aid of statistical evaluation. Therefore, taking urgent action based on these insights is crucial to mitigate the adverse impacts of plastic waste on the environment and human well-being in the region. Therefore, adopting circular economy principles and utilizing the DPSIR framework is practically suitable to address this issue effectively.