Recycling Waste into Wealth: The Role of Green Entrepreneurship in Promoting Sustainable Economic Development in Anambra State

Abstract

This study examined the role of green entrepreneurship in transforming waste into wealth and promoting sustainable economic development in Anambra State. The increasing rate of environmental pollution, unemployment, and poor waste management practices has become a major challenge to sustainable development in Nigeria. The study investigated how recycling activities and environmentally friendly entrepreneurial practices contribute to job creation, income generation, and environmental sustainability in Anambra State. A descriptive survey research design was adopted, and and data were collected from a sample of 210 respondents using purposive sampling. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics such as frequencies and percentages, while Pearson Product Moment Correlation (PPMC) was used to test the hypothesis at the 0.05 level of significance. The findings revealed that green entrepreneurship significantly contributes to employmentgeneration , poverty reduction, environmental protection, and efficient resource utilization. The study also identified inadequate funding, low public awareness, weak government support, and poor recycling infrastructure as major constraints affecting the growth of recycling enterprises. The study concluded that effective investment in waste recycling and green entreprleneurial initiatives can enhance sustainable economic growth and support environmental sustainability. It therefore recommended increased government incentives, environmental education, public-private partnerships, and access to finance to strengthen recycling activities and sustainable wealth creation in the state. Recent studies have emphasized that green entrepreneurship remains a viable strategy for achieving sustainable development and circular economy objectives in developing economies.