Assessment of Recycling Plastic Bottle Waste Considering Public Behavior and Attitude: Case Study Ibadan, Nigeria

Plastic pollution is one of the most dangerous challenges and pressing environmental issues confronting Ibadan and the rest of the world. Ibadan, the state capital of Oyo State in Nigeria, is the focus of the study. Data were collected from 605 individuals via questionnaire administration using a random sampling technique based on the socioeconomic characteristics of residents with balanced demographics. Plastic bottles, whose usage in this part of the world is unavoidable, have become an untamed, unmanaged beast due to behaviors and attitudes towards their disposal for recycling. The study was conducted for two months (10 January-15 March 2022) on a public survey of plastic bottle waste recycling. The study aims to provide an updated survey of public behavior and attitudes towards the uses, disposals, and recycling of plastic bottle waste in the city of Ibadan, Nigeria. Of the various categories of solid waste most generated by people, about 75% of the populace identified PBW as their most generated solid waste. The survey reveals that post-consumers of products do not recycle more than 80% of the plastic bottle waste used in Ibadan in plastic bottles. This results from poor sensitization in the recycling system, which leads to poor recycling outcomes. The study concludes that a well-structured return network must be implemented to deliver sufficient, convenient, and efficient recycling of plastic bottle waste.