Assessment of Plastic Waste Management in Secondary Schools in Ibadan, Oyo State

This study assesses plastic waste management practices and environmental awareness among secondary school students and administrators in Ibadan, Oyo State, South West Nigeria. Schools are both significant generators of plastic waste and important sites for environmental education, making the quality of waste management in school environments an indicator of both physical environmental conditions and curriculum outcomes. Ten public secondary schools in Ibadan North and Ibadan South East Local Government Areas were assessed through physical waste audits, observation of waste management practices, and structured interviews with school environmental officers or designated teachers. Student questionnaires were administered to 300 students in JSS3 and SSS2 classes, assessing plastic pollution awareness, personal habits, and views on school environmental practices. Plastic waste generation audits counted and categorised plastic items visible in school compounds and drains over three audit visits per school. Results show that plastic waste, predominantly sachet water bags, plastic food wrappers, and plastic bottles, is the dominant litter type at all ten schools. Waste bins are present in fewer than half of classrooms, and bin placement in school compounds is insufficient relative to student population. Only two schools have a functioning waste segregation system. Environmental management clubs are present at seven schools but are rated as inactive in four. Student awareness of plastic environmental impacts is moderate but translates poorly into individual behaviour, with most students citing a lack of convenient disposal infrastructure as the primary barrier. Recommendations include a mandatory school compound greening and waste infrastructure standard from the Oyo State Ministry of Education. Keywords: plastic waste, school environment, environmental education, Ibadan, waste management.