Lagos State, regarded as Nigeria’s commercial hub and home to over 25 million residents, generates approximately 5.5 million tons of waste annually, with a daily average of about 13,000 tons. However, a significant portion of the waste, about 60%, remains uncollected, and only about 13% is recycled. With an inadequate dumpsite for proper disposal, these wastes are scattered around the city, contributing to air pollution and city defacement. These also pose threats to human health due to the production of methane and carbon dioxide as these wastes decompose. Lagos’ waste management issue is further worsened by rapid urbanisation, which increases the population of this megacity. This insight highlights the waste crisis, policy gaps and explores possible solutions that inspire the immediate actions of stakeholders in Lagos State.
Currently, only about 3-6% of plastics, 5% of other recyclables and less than 1% of organic waste are recycled in the state. One of the contributing factors to Lagos’ waste management challenges is the inadequacy of infrastructure, including waste collection trucks, storage facilities, dumpsites, and recycling plants, which are necessary for waste collection, sorting, recycling, and disposal to cater to the enormous daily waste generated. Additionally, the high cost of waste bins discourages residents from participating in the state’s waste sorting initiative, which aims to promote waste sorting at the source. Other waste management challenges faced in the state include a lack of awareness about the importance of waste separation and sorting, open dumping and burning, inconsistent waste collection, and incoherent implementation.
Institutional Framework
Due to the voluminous waste generated in 1977, the Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA), initially established as the Lagos State Refuse Disposal Board (LSRDB), was created to oversee the collection and disposal of municipal and industrial waste, as well as provide commercial waste services to the state. To reinforce implementation, the Lagos State Environmental Sanitation Corps (LAGESC) was also commissioned in 2019 to enforce the state’s zero-tolerance policy for sporadic waste disposal, among other state regulations.
To rid the state of dirt and improve solid waste management, LAWMA partners with nearly 370 private sector participation (PSP) operators to facilitate the collection and transportation of waste across Lagos. Although this partnership has expanded household reach and supported job creation at the state level, several challenges linger. These roadblocks include the maintenance and improvement of performance levels, weak enforcement of laws and standards, and inconsistent service delivery. Furthermore, poor management and inadequate machinery often result in regular breakdowns of these PSP service vehicles, further disrupting service delivery.
Waste Management Solutions
Achieving sustainable waste management requires a multifaceted strategy that includes financial investment, awareness campaigns, policy reforms and implementation, technological adoption, and the involvement of the private sector. Economic investment is a key driver of waste management as it supports infrastructure development and service expansion. This phenomenon is notably evident in Liberia, where the World Bank invested $10.5 million in improving waste collection and constructing new sanitary landfills and transfer stations. Investments like this can be instrumental to addressing the waste infrastructure gaps through the expansion of recycling facilities, the acquisition of functional and modern waste trucks, and ensuring the proper maintenance of existing trucks to meet the waste generation rates in the state.
Also, awareness campaigns are necessary for improving waste management by driving behavioural changes among residents towards littering, illegal dumping and recycling. Community sensitisation in schools, social spaces, and media can help educate residents on the dangers of poor waste disposal to health and the environment, as well as the importance of recycling. For instance, public awareness campaign programs were very pivotal during the implementation of the 2008 plastic bags ban in Rwanda. These campaigns were used in educating the public on the effects of plastic bags on the environment and to reiterate the need for the ban. This could be a groundbreaking move in enhancing waste management culture and fostering a sense of responsibility among residents.
Additionally, the integration of technology enhances waste management systems; for instance, the United Kingdom’s Greyparrot utilises artificial intelligence in improving waste sorting and recycling processes. This recognition software is installed on the conveyor belt in recycling facilities to examine, categorise, and track different types of waste contents in real-time,, thereby reducing the cost, time, and stress involved in the manual waste sorting process. Additionally, this software is beneficial in improving waste data collection for waste management companies. Adopting a similar technological process could enhance the efficiency of waste management in Lagos state.
Finally, the involvement of the private sector promotes waste management strategies, increases funding support and infrastructural development. For example, a startup business in Argentina supports waste management efforts by developing an app that allows surplus food items intended for disposal to be sold. This approach aligns with the Circular Economy,, which promotes reuse, refurbishment, remanufacturing, recycling, and composting, and and is crucial in reducing the waste generated,, which is a pressing need for a megacity like Lagos. The implementation of these strategies is vital to effective and sustainable waste management in Lagos State.
Strategic Outlook
A multifaceted strategy is pivotal for effective, beneficial and sustainable waste management. The enforcement of policies mandating waste sorting at the point of generation will promote recycling habits, reduce the burden on dumpsites and reduce health costs due to improved public health. However, there needs to be investments in recycling facilities to accommodate the larger recycling activities and incentives that motivate participation. Continuously creating awareness at the grassroots level and incorporating waste management into the education curriculum is necessary for driving behavioural change as well as inculcating social responsibility. Fostering public-private partnerships, such as the waste-to-energy plant project, enhances innovation, attracts investments, and scales up projects. Furthermore, effective waste management requires human capital, meaning that the process of attaining an effective and sustainable waste management system will create more jobs, thereby advancing economic security.
References
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Lagos State Government Ministry of Environment and Water Resources (2019, October). Lagos Repositions LAGESC To Enforce Law on Waste Disposal, Street Trading, Open Defecation, Erection of Structures on Drainage Setbacks. https://moelagos.gov.ng/lagos-repositions-lagesc-to-enforce-law-on-waste-disposal-street-trading-open-defaecation-erection-of-structures-on-drainage-setbacks/
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