Evaluation of Policies and Regulations on Plastic Waste Recycling and Its Impact on the Aesthetic of Kaduna Metropolis

Abstract

Plastic is increasingly replacing metals, glass, ceramics and wood in many products, Plastic is a waste stream with recycling and recovery potential. The rate of recycling is not keeping up with the rate at which virgin plastics are being produced. The study evaluates the policies and regulations on plastic waste management and the resulting impacts on the environment in Kaduna metropolis. The nominal group technique survey approach was adopted to generate data for the study and analysis. 19 participants were involved in the nominal group discussion. The participants were drawn from various disciplines, profession and strata in both the civil service and citizens. The results show that 68% of the participants were male and females recorded 32% of the participants. On whether lack of adequate technical capacity of plastic recycling plants affects collection and disposal of plastic waste in Kaduna metropolis; the result of the NGT ranking showed that the factor of collection capacity challenges was due to lack of technical knowledge of separation at sources. This in a way affects the technical capacity of the few recycling plants in the study area. This aspect was ranked as one of the most impactful factor with a score of 71 points. With regards to impact of policies; the current policies and regulations were considered weak and lame and ranked as a serious factor affecting plastic waste collection, disposal and the aesthetics of Kaduna metropolis with an NGT point score of 84 points. On the impact of recycling, result also showed that the possibility of recycling creating value for the waste thereby making it a resource hence reduction in indiscriminate disposal was considered the most likely major impact plastic waste recycling will bring and was ranked by the stakeholders and got a massive NGT 64 points. The study concludes that plastic waste management in Kaduna metropolis has not advanced as expected. The laws governing plastic waste collection and disposal in the state are weak and enforcement is almost nonexistent. The study recommended new policy guidelines and adequate regulation with capacity for enforcement is required. All stakeholders should be carried along and actively involved in the new policy framework.

Keywords: Nominal Group Technique (NGT), Plastic, Waste, Recycling, Aesthetic, Policies

DOI: 10.7176/JEES/11-8-05

Publication date:August 31^st 2021