Effects of Littered Cans in Port Harcourt, Nigeria
Chapter One
Objectives of the study
The research was guided by the following specific objectives:
- To describe the nature and extent of littered cans in Port Harcourt.
- To assess the impact of littered cans in Port Harcourt.
- To recommend solutions to curb the littering
CHAPTER TWO
LITERATURE REVIEW
Littering is not a new environmental pollution problem. However, it differs from other types of pollution because it results from the collective action of numerous individuals not from a small number of corporations (Feld, 1978). Litter is the end result of littered cans. The first efforts of behaviour experts to solve environmental issues began with the problem of littered cans (Cone & Hayes, 1985) because littering was seen as a behavioural problem that could cause significant impact on the economy, environment and society (Torgler et al., 2008; Bennett, n.d.).
Nature and extent of littered cans
Litter is a visible sign that society does not take pride in the spaces where it lives, works and plays (Florida Centre for Hazardous Waste Management (FCSHWM), 1999). While littering problem is currently receiving global attention, the phenomenon has always been in existence. Melosi (1981) ascribed the problem of littered cans to refuse and garbage tossed in the street. He noted that the litter problem was a result of industrialization as well as the development of the European cities. Mumford (1961; as cited by Beck, 2007), said that industrialization produced the most degraded urban environment the world had yet seen.
A wide range of definitions of „litter‟ and „littering‟ has been used in literature. Litter can be defined as “any piece of glass, plastic, paper, metal, cloth, rubber, food, or food by-product which is thrown away in public places outside waste collection containers” (H.A. Arafat et al., 2007). Waste outside any container is not referred to as litter (H.A. Arafat et al., 2007). Geller et al. (1982), Stokols et al. (1987), Keenan (1996) and Hines et al. (1986-87) define littering as the thoughtless, inappropriate discarding of small quantities of wastes (Ojedokun & Balogun, 2013). Littering is also leaving behind unwanted and unnatural elements in the environment (Green, 2001). Powls (2005) defines littering the act of disposing rubbish improperly especially along roadsides, highways and streets. Littering can be intentional, unintentional or gross. Intentional littering is when someone deliberately throws trash while unintentional is when litter accidentally falls off a moving vehicle. Gross littering is when someone deposits a large amount of waste into a ditch or has an illegal dumpsite.
Littering can be categorized into active and passive. The researchers argue that littering is as a two-stage process of (a) placing litter in any location in the environment and then (b) failing to remove that litter when leaving that location. This failure to remove litter is termed as passive littering. Active littering is whereby an individual takes a shorter amount of time to litter an object, for example, just before leaving or while passing through an area (Sibley & Liu, 2003). Passive littering compared to active littering is more resistant to change because of forgetfulness and the decreasing feeling of responsibility of picking up the litter (Msezane, 2014).
In littering research conducted in the 1970s, the first of its kind, Keep America Beautiful (KAB) found that litter originates from seven sources: household rubbish by the curb, bins used by businesses, demolition and construction sites, loading docks, uncovered garbage trucks, pedestrians and motorists (KAB, 2009). However, many studies have shown that littering is mostly human descendent as high levels of litter are usually synonymous with high levels of human traffic (KAB, 2009; Schultz et al., 2011). In 2009, Keep Britain Tidy conducted a survey, looking in more detail at roadside litter which arises mainly from litter thrown from vehicles. They found that 20% of the general public admitted to littering from a car in the six months prior to the survey. Williams et al. (1997) found that litter is not simply dropped or left behind, but it is deliberately placed in certain locations. A high proportion of littered cans occurs in locations where litter can be hidden, or in places resembling litter bins, for example, in bushes or pot planters.
Littring is also linked to economics (Okeoma & Nkwocha, 2009) as there is usually a significant intensity of activities practiced along the areas that are normally littered. These areas can be categorised into four: a) special event venues such as concerts, carnivals and other special events that attract a large number of people who will generate waste; b) roads and highways as well as highway on/off ramps; c) high traffic and everyday locations such as fast food businesses, convenience stores, picnic grounds, park benches and other high pedestrian traffic areas; and d) transition points which are places where someone stops for eating, drinking or smoking before they proceed (Novotny et al., 1999). In South Africa, more bins were needed to be put near taxis and street vendors as these areas were littered (Poswa, 1997).
There are many causes of littered cans but the main causes offered in the literature include laziness (the bin is too far away), a perception that littering is not an important environmental concern especially compared to „the bigger‟ environmental issues e.g., the ozone layer, a feeling that someone else is paid to clean up and in a location context, a lack of litter collection (general area cleanliness), and binfrastructure (bins) (The NSW Office of Environment and Heritage, 2013).
As a result of the impacts of littered cans in the world, many groups existed with the aim of raising littering awareness and running anti-littering campaigns including clean up events. This led to the introduction of the “International Tidyman icon”, an icon found on packaged products to encourage proper binning of the packaging after use. The origins of the Tidyman logo are unclear but one suggestion is that the Tidyman was first used by the American beer company, Budweiser, in the 1950s to encourage people not to litter and the other although similar idea is that the Tidyman logo was originally developed by the Keep America Beautiful campaign in conjunction with the American Brewers Association in the 1960s (The Tidyman History, 2015).
CHAPTER THREE
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
Introduction
This chapter outlines the research methods of the study. It describes the research designs and methods employed in the study, looking at the data sources, sampling design and procedure and the data collection, processing and analysis methods used.
Research Design and organization of the study
The researcher used both quantitative research design. The designs for most quantitative studies are highly structured and it was preferred as it would facilitate prompt data collection from the respondents. The study was conducted in two parts. Data in part one was collected using the quantitative approach. Questionnaires with both open and closed ended questions were given to the sampled residents of Trans Amadi areas. They were asked to be as clear as possible while answering the open ended questions. As some of the residents could not understand the language used, which was English, the questions were translated for them and done carefully, so as not to lose the understanding or meaning of the question. In part two, qualitative research was used in the Director of the Environment at Port Harcourt County Council offices to interview the key informants. The researcher used guiding questions prepared in advance.
Data types
The study used primary and secondary data sources. It also used quantitative and qualitative data. Primary data on attitude and behaviour towards littered cans was collected through a pre- coded questionnaire. Secondary data was collected from review of literature done on the topic under study. In addition, the researcher relied on informal interviews with key informants.
Exploration Survey
Before the actual preparation and study was done, a pre-survey was done. This was done in Trans Amadi so as to enable the researcher understand both environments and also know the best tools to use, best times to go especially in Rumumasi and whom to approach to gain access to the households to be surveyed. In Rumumasi, the researcher went to the chief of the area, informing him of the study and was given a guide to show her the areas she had sampled. In Golf estate Kayaba, the researcher spoke to the chief and the Head Community Social Worker and was also given a guide.
Study Population and Sample size
Study Population
The study population comprised residents of Trans Amadi in Port Harcourt which have 2,861 and 9,814 households respectively (NBS, 2009). The two areas were chosen as they represented the high and low-income households, respectively. According to NBS (2011), a high income household is one that spends above Sh. 200,000 a month while a middle income household is one that spends between Sh23, 670 and Sh199,999 monthly. The low income households are those who spend less than Sh23,670 per month. The two areas were also chosen because they lie in different areas of Port Harcourt that were segmented during the colonial period, representing high and low income dwelling areas. The unit of analysis in the study was the household.
CHAPTER FOUR
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
Nature and extent of littered cans
The respondents in this study were both males (26; 43.3%) and females (34; 56.7%), with more than half of them (60%) aged between 26 and 50 years old. Half of the respondents (41.7%) had attained a tertiary level of education and 31.7% secondary education (Table 4.1.1)
CHAPTER FIVE
SUMMARY OF FINDINGS, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION
Summary of findings
The study set out to investigate the behaviour and attitude towards littered cans of the citizens of Port Harcourt. It also wanted to find out the impacts of littered cans in the County. This study has shown that:
- Littering is a major problem in Port Harcourt. Individuals and putting the household trash by the roadside are the highest sources of
- Personal and material variables are the most common drivers of littered cans attitudes and behaviours in Port Harcourt and its preventive
- Residents of Port Harcourt have a positive attitude and a negative behaviour towards littered cans.
- Littering has an enormous impact on the environment and the economy. Having 25% of the revenue allocation go to the payment of street cleaners in Port Harcourt only is a taxpayer‟s
- To reduce littering, there has to be increased civic awareness and provision of more
- Corruption can undermine the anti-littering efforts. It does so by undermining the effect of littered cans fines and taxes and usurping of money for creating awareness in print and broadcast media which would be the most effective way of promoting
Conclusion
Litter is a social construct. Whereas litter is simply waste in the „wrong‟ place, littering behaviour is the process by which that wastes ends up in the wrong place. Littering behaviour, in turn, comes about as the result of interactions between items that are considered as litter, the individuals, and the factors that influence their actions. Thus understanding this behaviour is the key to finding meaningful tactics to deal with the problem. Littering should therefore be seen as a by-product of incidences. Once we study these incidences, we find our solution.
Recommendations to:
Government and environmental agencies
Based on this study, the most effective approach to tackling littering may be strategic and tactical.
Strategic
-
- Public education and awareness (changing antecedent conditions) – An overarching awareness-raising strand to improve and dissuade littering behaviours that are and are not acceptable. Explaining why littering is not appropriate through highlighting its negative effect may make the messages more acceptable. Media campaigns should be used as evidence in the past has shown that they have been as they reach many people at a time.
- Enforcement of the already existing laws in Port Harcourt on littering and illegal
- Have policies to reduce urban poverty as economic pressure puts under pressure urban
- A strong will from the
- Tactical measures
- Increase bins in areas around Port Harcourt in workplaces and public locations. This MUST be coupled with an efficient collection The bins must have action messages for example „bin your trash‟.
- Give civic education to the young and old in Port Harcourt on littering and general environmental
- Reward and recognize citizens‟ efforts in urban cleanliness. This will inspire positive littering behaviour and instil a sense of pride and
Individuals
- Simply stop littering your trash as you walk or BIN YOUR TRASH. Littering begins with you and so does maintenance of a clean environment.
- Caution others when you see them litter in a gentle way reminding them that littering has consequences which include flooding due to blocked
- As a parent, teach your children good binning habits because they will grow into life- long
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