Personal factors and attitude of secondary school teachers towards plastic waste disposal in Ibadan Metropolis, Nigeria

Plastic waste disposal remains a major environmental challenge in urban areas of Nigeria, including Ibadan Metropolis, with schools contributing significantly to plastic waste generation. Secondary school teachers play a vital role in shaping students’ attitudes towards proper waste disposal; however, improper practices persist, raising concerns about teachers’ attitudes and the influence of personal factors. This study examined the attitudes of secondary school teachers towards plastic waste disposal in Ibadan Metropolis and assessed the influence of age, gender, and level of education on these attitudes. A descriptive research design was adopted, and data were collected using a structured questionnaire administered to secondary school teachers. Data analysis involved descriptive statistics, including mean and standard deviation, with a benchmark mean of 2.50 used to determine attitude levels. The findings revealed that teachers generally exhibited positive attitudes towards plastic waste disposal. The result further reveals that the most potent component of sub-personal factor is academic qualification (β = .136, t= 3.85, p<0.05) followed by gender (β = -.126, t= 2.22, p<0.05), which suggests that females have a very significant attitudes toward waste disposal that are 0.237 units lower than males, holding other variables constant while age is not significant (the overall weighted mean score (x̅ = 2.79; SD = 0.90) exceeded the benchmark mean. The study concludes that while teachers demonstrate favourable attitudes, greater emphasis is required on translating these attitudes into sustained advocacy and practical action within the school environment.