ABSTRACT
Food waste, an ecological, social and economic issue, occurs in various ways and if not disposed appropriately could pose several problems to both the environment and residents. The study evaluated food waste management practices in 13 peri-urban restaurants in Warri, Nigeria, using both qualitative and quantitative methods, with 410 customers participating in the survey. The study found that waste collection baskets are the most commonly used tool for waste collection in selected restaurants, with 53.8% accumulating and disposing of waste weekly. Only 14.14% of customers praised their waste management practices. While 84.61% of restaurants employ the services of waste management agencies for their waste disposal needs, 30.7% of participating managers confirmed that their restaurant's food waste management and disposal practice pose obvious environmental concerns. The study recommends the use of compostable bins as well as intense public awareness exercises to promote sustenance in restaurant food waste management in peri-urban areas.
