Waste generation, environmental perception, and community responses to industrial pollution in peri-urban Oluyole, Oyo State, Nigeria

Abstract Industrialization in peri-urban areas often outpaces waste management infrastructure and environmental governance, creating environmental hotspots where industrial, residential, and agricultural land uses overlap. This study examined waste generation, environmental perception, and community responses to industrial pollution in four peri-urban communities of Oluyole Local Government Area, Oyo State, Nigeria. A mixed-methods design combined a household survey of 275 respondents with four Focus Group Discussions (FGDs). Descriptive statistics, Principal Component Analysis (PCA), and thematic analysis were used for data analysis. Waste composition varied markedly across communities, with chemical and industrial wastes dominating in Odo-Ona and Iyana-Bare, while agricultural and organic wastes were more prevalent in Idi-Ayunre and Alomaja. Despite the availability of designated dump sites, open dumping remained the dominant disposal practice, and waste segregation was limited. PCA identified four dimensions of environmental perception explaining 66.16% of the total variance, with sensory pollution emerging as the dominant factor. Community responses were characterized by relatively high environmental awareness but low formal reporting and limited confidence in institutional responses. FGDs revealed adaptive tolerance driven by livelihood dependence on nearby industries. The findings demonstrate that industrial pollution in peri-urban Oluyole is shaped by localized industrial activities, sensory-based environmental risk perception, and weak institutional governance. Strengthening integrated waste management, environmental monitoring, regulatory enforcement, and community participation is essential for sustainable industrial development in rapidly urbanizing peri-urban regions.