This research presents a baseline assessment of plastic waste management practices, environmental awareness, and climate change perceptions in Ondo Town, Ondo State, Nigeria. Using a mixed-methods approach that combined household surveys and direct field observation, the study examined patterns of plastic use, disposal behaviour, waste segregation, and the extent of indiscriminate dumping within urban and peri-urban communities. The research also assessed community knowledge of climate change and the link between waste management, flooding, public health, and environmental degradation. The findings establish quantitative and qualitative benchmarks to inform the design, implementation, and monitoring of the PURE-WISE project, with a focus on behaviour change communication, community engagement, and circular economy solutions, including plastic recovery and the valorisation of organic residues such as plantain waste.