Influence of Energy Consumption and Waste Management on Economic Sustainability of Small and Medium Enterprises in Anambra State
Abstract
The study examined the influence of energy consumption and waste management on economic sustainability of small and medium enterprises in Anambra State. The study developed three objectives: to examine the effect of energy consumption on economic sustainability of small and medium enterprises in Anambra State; assess the influence of waste management on economic sustainability of small and medium enterprises in Anambra State. This research work is anchored on the Stakeholder theory. The study adopted survey research design. Data were generated from primary sources. The method for data collection was questionnaire which was administered randomly among the staff of the selected small and medium enterprises in Anambra state. The population of the study was 1,810 staff. The sample size of the study was three hundred and forty-eight (348) which was gotten through Borg & Gall (1973) formular, while three hundred and forty-seven (347) where retrieved. The hypotheses were tested using regression analysis method at 0.05% level of significance. The findings of the study revealed that energy consumption has significant effect on economic sustainability of small and medium enterprises in Anambra State; Waste management has significant effect on economic sustainability of small and medium enterprises in Anambra State. The study concludes that promoting efficient energy consumption and sound waste management is not only an environmental or operational necessity but also a strategic economic imperative for the sustainability and growth of SMEs in Anambra State. The study recommends that; Small and medium-scale enterprises should invest in energy-efficient equipment and technologies, such as energy-saving machines, LED lighting, and modern production tools, to improve productivity while minimizing energy wastage. This will help reduce operational costs and enhance long-term economic sustainability.
