EMPERATIVES OF ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION AND AWARENESS CREATION ON SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT IN NIGERIA

The management of solid wastes in recent time has become a very big challenge. The indiscriminate dumping of solid wastes in the streets, gutters open spaces and flood during rains leads to the spread of diseases and pollution of the environment. The inability of the adult citizens to segregate, reduce, reuse and recycle their wastes has further compounded the management of wastes by the contractors involved in wastes management in different states of the country. It is in the light of these problems that the paper discussed the importance of education and awareness creation on solid waste management. The strategies to be utilised in education and awareness is equally discussed, so also the benefits of educating the citizens. The paper recommends that educating the citizens both formally, informally and non-formally should be sustained. The print, electronic media, environmental education materials should all be utilised in creating awareness.