ABSTRACT

The study examined the assessment of wood waste generated in Ahiaeke timber market. The objectives guiding this work are to; determine the percentage volume of wood wastes generated from log species commonly processed in Ahiaeke Timber Market, determine the level of wood waste utilization and management and determine limitations to wood waste utilization. Purposive sampling and random sampling techniques were used to determine a sample size of60 respondents. Data from this study were generated from questionnaire administration. Data collected were analyzed using SPSS statistical package. The result showed that majority (71.7%) of the respondents were male. The mean volume of wood waste generated from Ahiaeke timber market was 33.33m3 which indicate that a huge quantity of wood waste was generated in the market, utilization of wood wastes in production of energy was very low, but burning ofwood wastes on an open field was very high as it was a way the respondents dispose wood wastes. Utilization of wood wastes in producing fossil fuel was very low. It was observed that limitations to wood wastes utilization in Ahiaeke Timber market were lack of capital, lack of awareness, inadequate raw material and lack oftechnical know-how; the response had a mean value of 2.77, 3.01, 3.59 and 2.55 respectively. Therefore, the study concluded that wood wastes are generated in the study area and are not utilized and ’Managed effectively and recommends that deliberate efforts need to be intensified in creating more awareness on the need to develop innovations in wood residues utilization so as to maximize wood utilization.