Bridging The Awareness-Behaviour Gap in Municipal Solid Waste Management: Evidence from Ota, Ogun State, Nigeria.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to assess the public perception and environmental awareness, as well as the waste disposal methods, within Ota, an urbanising industrial city located in Ogun State, Nigeria. Design/Methodology/Approach: The study employed a cross-sectional survey design, in which primary data were collected using a structured questionnaire from 500 households across five selected communities. The data obtained were analysed using descriptive statistics. Research Limitation: The study was conducted in five selected communities within Ota, Ogun State, Nigeria, and focused on household perceptions, environmental awareness, and waste disposal practices, which may limit the generalisation of the findings to other urban areas. Findings: Waste burning (21.2–24.3%) and private waste collection services (17.2–21.3%) were the main methods of waste disposal used by household members. Segregation of household waste was minimal, as 79.0% of the respondents confirmed that they do not segregate their waste before disposing of it. Knowledge about the 3Rs, namely reduce, reuse, and recycle, was minimal, as evidenced by the fact that only 30.2% of the respondents had knowledge about this concept. Although 70.8% of respondents were aware of the environmental implications of improper waste management and its impact on their health, only 37.8% had participated in any environmental education concerning proper waste management procedures. Practical Implication: The study therefore emphasised that environmental awareness is not sufficient to ensure that proper waste management practices will be adopted by the communities. Proper waste management requires other factors, such as effective collection, sorting, and segregation, as well as increased community participation. Social Implication: The findings highlight the need for improved community participation, environmental education, and sustainable waste management practices to reduce environmental and public health risks associated with improper waste disposal. Originality / Value: The study contributes empirical evidence on the awareness-behaviour gap in urban waste management and provides policy-relevant insights for strengthening sustainable waste management systems in Nigeria and other developing countries.