THE SOCIO-ECONOMIC AND THE HOUSEHOLD AND WASTE GENERATION STATUS IN JALINGO METROPOLIS, TARABA STATE

This study assessed the relationship between households’ socioeconomic status and waste generation in Jalingo Metropolis. The study adopted a survey research design. The study was guided by three research questions, two objectives, and two hypotheses. The study was based on the EKC theory and the waste management hierarchy model. Data for the study were obtained from primary and secondary sources. The study population consists of 318,481 people within the Jalingo metropolis. A sample size of 390 respondents was used. Data was collected using a structured questionnaire and visual observation. A total of 384 questionnaires were used for the analysis after data cleaning. The data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. The research questions were answered using the mean and standard deviation, and the hypotheses were tested using linear regression. The study found a significant influence of household income level on waste generation in Jalingo metropolis (F=6.558, P<0.05). Similarly, a significant relationship was found between the education level of household members and their waste management practices in Jalingo Metropolis (F=85.828, P<0.05). The study concludes that socioeconomic status is a major determinant of household waste generation and disposal behaviors in Jalingo. The government should implement and enforce policies that promote proper waste segregation, recycling, and environmentally friendly disposal methods. To ensure effectiveness, policies should be tailored to the waste disposal behaviors of different socioeconomic groups