ABSTRACT

 The study aimed at recycling of household solid waste for Economic Regeneration and Resource Recovery “3R” in South East Nigeria. The specific objectives were to identify the various types of solid wastes generated by households in South East Nigeria; to determine the various ways households dispose solid wastes; to identify factors affecting solid waste collection; to find out different ways of managing solid waste; to produce fancy ornamentals from used cans; to ascertain the market acceptability of fancy ornamentals recycled from used cans; and to determine the cost effectiveness of the recycled ornamentals with that of ready-made ones in the market. Seven research questions and ten hypotheses guided the study. The population for the study was three million, five hundred and two thousand, and three hundred and sixty two (3,502,362). The sample size for all the groups used was eight hundred and thirty eight. Multi stage sampling technique was employed which included stratified, purposive and simple random sampling techniques. Three different instruments were used, the Solid Waste Management Process and Disposal Questionnaire (SWMPDQ), Focus Group Discussion Guide (FGDG)   Evaluative instrument for judges on fancy ornamentals from recycled Cans (EINJORC). The instruments were validated by five experts after which it was subjected to reliability test using Cronbach alpha. The reliability coefficient values of the instruments were 0.77 for types of solid waste, 0.82 for ways of disposal, 0.77 for factors that affect collection, 0.90 for solid waste management, 0.82, 0.79, 0.77, 0.81 0.86, respectively for acceptability attributes and 0.75 for cost effectiveness. The Instrument was administered personally by the researcher and 4 research assistants. The research questions were analysed using frequency, mean, and standard deviation while the hypotheses were tested using t-test at 0.05 level of significance. The result of the findings revealed among others that households generate food waste, cans, plastics, paper, textiles, rubber, leather, wood, bottles, mattress, batteries and electronics as solid waste with the cluster mean of 3.12. Thirty pieces of household ornamentals were produced using mould casting method. Among others the cluster mean score of 3.14 by the judges revealed that the recycled fancy ornamentals were easy to use, fit comfortably into universal pipe for interiors, very functional and sturdy; the product was easy to fix and remove, portable for household ornamentals and the weight fits the purpose; gives impression of creativity, promote economic recovery and economic regeneration, depicts a sense of competence and the design is nice. The findings also revealed that the recycled fancy ornamentals price is affordable; no significant difference in the mean ratings of male and female ornamental dealers on all the acceptability attributes of safety, expressive, utilitarian, and aesthetic and its cost effectiveness. It was concluded that adequate attention should be given to recycling of solid waste for economic regeneration. It was therefore recommended among others that small scale entrepreneurs should be assisted financially by individuals and government for economic regeneration.