www

5 downloads 0 Views 75KB Size Report
examining student's attitude towards solid waste recycling and the strategies for ..... a system that rewarded me if I recycled everything I could and penalized ..... .gov.uk/environment/waste/strategy/strategy07/documents/waste07-strategy.pdf.
Advances in Arts, Social Sciences and Education Research http://www.ejournal.sedinst.com © Science Education Development Institute, 2012 Volume 2 (5) May: 158 - 167, 2012 Printed in Nigeria ISSN: 2276 - 6715 ATTITUDE TOWARD RECYCLING AND WASTE MANAGEMENT: A SURVEY OF MARKETING STUDENTS IN SUNYANI POLYTECHNIC, GHANA. 1

Samuel Yeboah Asuamah1, Ernest Kumi1 and Ernest Kwarteng2 Marketing Department, 2 General and Liberal Studies, Sunyani Polytechnic, Ghana

ABSTRACT The paper aims at contributing to the body of knowledge in the area of waste management by examining student’s attitude towards solid waste recycling and the strategies for recycling. The research is based on quantitative research design and a descriptive survey of the Students at Sunyani Polytechnic that were selected using convenience sampling method for a sample of 139. Data were analysed using frequency, percentages and One-Way Analysis of variance (ANOVA). Respondent’s knowledge and attitude towards solid waste recycling is good and positive. Numerous campaigns should be launched/started through media (TV, Internet) as indicated by respondents as well as a letting people to know about more affirmative benefit in terms of health, cost minimization and risk minimization of social life when the society recycle. Future studies in the study area should be based on comparative analysis using respondents from other departments. Causal studies are also worth doing in future. KEY WORDS: Recycling; Solid waste management; Attitude; Ghana INTRODUCTION Recycling of waste results in; saving natural resources; saving energy; reducing disposal costs; reducing harmful emissions to our air and water; saving money and creating jobs. Yet many people do not recycle but always use new material. This has created waste management problem in our communities with it associated problems in the area of health and environment. Ghana like many developing economies suffers from waste management problems due to many factors such as people’s negative attitude towards the environment. “Recycling has gained increasing attention as a means of protecting the environment since it offers one of the most sensible solutions both economically and ecologically for managing waste” (Omran et al., 2009). Recycling has not been part of the life of Ghanaians over the years. Many tones of waste that could be recycled are discarded, incinerated and land-filled in Ghana. The districts, municipalities, and metropolitans Assemblies spend lots of resources in disposing waste in Ghana instead of using them on other developmental projects and infrastructure such as roads, schools, hospitals, water, and electricity. Apaak (2010) indicates that UN report has established that Accra and other African cities generate 80% organic waste; 10% plastic, glass, and metals waste and less than 12% paper waste per day. However, most of this waste is not properly collected and disposed in a safe and healthy manner. Solid waste generation is expected to increase with population growth in Ghana especially the cities yet there is no known legislation on recycling nor recycling campaign to change people attitude. Legally, waste management in Ghana is under the control of state governments (Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development). There are related agencies such as Environmental Protection Agency, Town and Country Planning Department. In order to reduce the burden facing the local governments on waste management, a privatization process (Zoomlion) has been initiated in Ghana with the aim of attaining an integrated and efficient management system to enhance environmental quality. Many recycling campaigns have failed due to many reasons in many economies. In Malaysia the head of the department of the recycling program in the Municipal Council of Alor Setar (MCAS) in the town of Alor Setar asserted in Omran et al. (2009) that “the majority of households do not understand and respect the waste collection schedule of the private (waste collection) company and there is a lack of co-operation from the households to make the town clean”.

158

Advances in Arts, Social Sciences and Education Research: Volume 2 (5) May: 158 - 167, 2012

According to Department of Environment, (2005) in Omran et al. (2009), most of the waste generated in Malaysia is not recycled and that just 5% waste is recycled. There has been a lot of literature on recycling of solid waste in developing and developed economies by researchers and institutions such as Omran et al. (2009); Defra (2007); MORI (2002); Omran and Gebril (2011); Momoh and Oladebeye (2010); These studies have shown that attitude influence behaviour of people in taking decision on issues. According to Gibson et al. (1997) attitude is “mental state of readiness for need arousal”. Gibson et al. (1997) states “attitude is a positive or negative feeling or mental state of readiness, learned and organised through experience, that exerts specific influence on a person’s response to people, objects, and situations”. Attitude has three main components which are Affect (Feeling), Cognition and Behaviour. Affect “is the emotional segment of an attitude” which is learned from various sources such as peer groups, teachers, parents, and leaders. Cognition “is the perception, opinion or belief segment of an attitude” with evaluate belief been the most important element which manifest as the “favourable or unfavourable impressions someone holds toward an objective or person”. The other component of attitude is behaviour. Behaviour is “a person’s intention to act toward someone or something in a certain way” (Gibson et al., 1997). Various empirical results are found in the literature on recycling. For example, in Momoh and Oladebeye (2010) analysis on the effect of demographic variables on willingness to take part in recycling programme various results well produced. The results show that, place of resident has no significant effect on willingness to recycle (chi-square test: p = 0.543). Gender of respondents did not statistically significantly affect willingness to recycle (p = 0.853) as well as age though those in the middle age group were more willing to recycle than older and young respondents. Educational level has no significant effect on willingness to recycle (Chi-square: p=0.638). Household size significantly affect willingness to recycle (Chi-square: p=0.01) with respondents in the middle-sized families of (5-7) more willing to participate in recycling programme (25.3%). Employment status significantly affect willingness to recycle (P=0.01) with civil servants willing to recycle more (36.8%). Income has on significant effect on willingness to recycle (0.432) but respondents in mediumincome group were more willing to recycle (46.7%). Tenants were not willing to recycle than house owners (0.792). Type of housing (commercial, institutional and residential) has no significant effect on willingness to recycle (p=0.276). They assessed respondent’s attitude (‘the extent to which people are aware of, care about and view household waste recycling’) towards recycling. Majority (96.7%) were not aware with very few (3.3%) been aware of existing recycle programme. Twelve (12) respondents learnt about recycle through one means with 5.4% indicating that they recycle solid waste at home. Various reasons were given for recycling waste. They are: Ecological Arguments (benefits that recycling offers the natural environments conserve our natural resources); Environment concern (keep environments clean and unpolluted); Economic (they earned income from selling recyclables like bottles, plastics, textiles, paper, etc. to either rag pickers or buy-back centers). In the study, majority (76%) of the respondents indicated that they are willing to take part in the recycling programme while 24% of the respondents indicated that they are not willing to take part in the recycling programme. There was statistically significant (The chi-square test: p=0.003) positive relationship between respondents’ willingness to sort household waste and willingness to participate in recycling. On the reasons why they are willing or unwilling to sort householder waste into recyclables and non-recyclables, various reasons were given (for the purpose of recycling; If separate bags for recyclables and non-recyclables are provided; For benefits to the natural environment to avoid litter and maintain cleaner and unpolluted surroundings; Because of environmental awareness which emphasizes reduction of waste and recycling; If the cost or charges that accrued to it is affordable. Reasons provided for unwillingness to sort waste are it is timeconsuming and it is also requires some effort.

159

Advances in Arts, Social Sciences and Education Research: Volume 2 (5) May: 158 - 167, 2012

Respondents were asked how often they would prefer to have their recyclables collected. Majority (59%) preferred once a week with 31% of the respondents indicating twice in a week. Other majority (63.7%) respondents preferred the collection of their recyclables and non recyclables to take place on the same day. Most respondents were unwilling to pay any extra service charge for their household solid waste removal since they do not have enough income. In Ifegbesan (2010) study respondents were asked to indicate whether there was opportunity to recycle or not in school. Majority (77.3%) of the respondents indicated ‘No’. The results indicated that few respondents (27.7%) preferred recycling to other means of disposing waste on campus. The authors indicated that “recycling is not a common method of waste management not just in schools but also in the student’s households”. Aljaradin et al. (2011) analysis on knowledge of recycling indicated that majority (77.3%) of the respondents have low knowledge on recycle resulting from the fact that most (64.2%) have not learned a lot from school, university and municipality on recycling activities. Respondent’s awareness on recycle was low with significant majority (71.7%) not knowing the kind of material that can be recycled. Very significant majority (71.8%) of the respondents thought the school management did not provide necessary equipment for recycling, with most (65.8%) respondents indicating that university/municipality did not handle solid waste properly. On the willingness to recycle, 63.3% respondents were not willing to contribute to separating waste while 52.2% respondents thinking that recycling is not their own responsibility with 73% putting the responsibility on municipality and 40.1% seeing producer of the goods as responsible for recycling. On benefits of recycling 75.6% indicated that they will benefit economically; 69.5% indicated environmental benefits while 83.7% agreed that the recycling of solid waste is important for the country. Few (18.6%) respondents are willing to partake in educational programme on recycling awareness with 22% willing to attend such programme. Majority (53%) will walk few meters (20) to recycle and most (55%) not ready to pay extra money for improve recycling service. Age and gender of respondents affected willingness to pay extra amount for improved service. Those within 21 years were willing to pay (73%) with females more willing to pay (69%). Omran and Gebril (2011) assessed respondents awareness of the recycling activities/campaign majority (84.7%) of the respondents were aware of the ongoing campaign. The most popular means of information is newspaper followed by TV and Radio ads and then newsletter and billboards. All respondents were of the few that recycling is important with significant majority (71%) taken part recycling activity. Various reasons were given for recycling. The most popular reasons are: concern for the environment; concern about availability of landfill; encouragement from their children/others with few recycling due to money. On the reasons respondent were not partaking in recycling were: inconvenience and lack of facilities (62%); “don’t bother” (18%); find it unimportant (13%). Majority (61.7%) were aware of the location of recycling facilities with 52% complained that the location could not be easily located. Few of the respondents (33%) indicated that the distance of location of facilities is within 1 kilometer from their house, while 16% stated that the distance is within the radius of 2 – 3 kilometer and 44% indicated that the distance is far and located more than 5 kilometer radius. On the type of materials recycled the most recycled is newspaper, aluminum cans, plastics, cardboards and glass respectively. Less than half of the respondents (46%) sent their recyclables weekly with 24% recycled more often (twice or three times a week). Respondents provided strategies to improve recycling in the community. These were provision of more facilities; more facilities; “local collection centers” nearer to residence; community or group recycling and education of the benefit and importance of recycling as well as monetary incentives.

160

Advances in Arts, Social Sciences and Education Research: Volume 2 (5) May: 158 - 167, 2012

Ehrampoush and Moghadam (2005) Survey of Knowledge, Attitude and Practice show that the knowledge level of 66% of male respondents was good and moderate, with 34% respondents having low level of knowledge. The knowledge level of females was lower than that of males, with 51.4% female’s respondent having low level of knowledge. Gender significantly (P