The Mode of Operation, Challenges and Benefits of Informal Waste Collection in Ibadan.

Abstract

The rapid increase in waste generation in Ibadan without commensurate collection efforts by municipalities and formal private waste service providers have led to the involvement of informal waste collectors in waste collection service in the city. This paper examined the mode of operation of the informal waste collectors (IWCs) and the challenges and benefits of informal waste collection in the city. A structured questionnaire was administered to 253 informal waste collectors in the five municipal local government areas of the city. Both descriptive and inferential statistics were used to analyse the data collected. The challenges facing the IWCs werehealth (51.7%), social stigma (46.8%),economic constraints (33.6%),and insecurity (56.3%). Job opportunities, income generation, and reduction in uncollected waste were the major benefits of informal waste collection. Although the IWCs experienced challenges in their operations, they desired to address inadequate waste collection and disposal services and were motivated to remain in the business by service demand, job prospects and income earnings. Given the role of IWCs in reducing the problems of uncollected wastes, government needs to review its policy on non-recognition of the IWCs and integrate them into the waste management system in the city.