In recent years the daily waste generation in Lagos has steadily increased from 9,000 metric tonnes in 2014 to 12,000 metric tonnes in 2018, with an individual generating an average of 0.5 kg/day and 0.72 kg/day, respectively.
Currently Lagos produces between 13,000 and 15,000 metric tonnes of waste equivalent to about 490 trailer loads daily, with each Lagosian generating an average of 1.2kg/day, a figure expected to rise to 1.4kg in the next 15 years.
As Lagos rapidly expands, with over 15.9 million residents, it faces a significant challenge in managing this growth in amount of waste generated by its increasing population.
A significant portion of this waste remains uncollected, cluttering sidewalks, open spaces, and waterways.
Lagos, with 62 per cent of Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) being wet, biodegradable, and organic, faces a unique environmental challenge.
This growing crisis in waste management not only poses a threat to the environment but also significantly impacts the health and well-being of Lagosians. Without effective solutions and attention, Lagos faces the risk of becoming overwhelmed by its own waste.
Landfills, often overlooked, are more than just mountains of trash; they’re significant sources of harmful gases that contribute to climate change.
Everyday, tonnes of waste from homes and businesses in Lagos find their way to landfills. Here, amidst a mix of discarded food, plastic, and other refuse, a silent but harmful process is at play. As this waste breaks down, it releases gases, notably methane, a gas that is over 25 times more potent in trapping heat in the atmosphere than carbon dioxide.
A World Bank report highlighted that solid waste management was responsible for about five per cent of global emissions in 2016, with methane emissions from landfills being a key contributor.
While sectors like agriculture, oil, and gas are well-known for their methane emissions, the waste sector also accounts for 20 per cent of human-related methane emissions.
Waste emits methane when organic waste, like food, wood, and paper, decomposes under anaerobic conditions in landfills.
This situation is further aggravated by a lack of proper waste disposal education, leading to an increasing trend of organic waste being improperly mixed with recyclable materials in landfills.
This mix accelerates the production of methane during the decomposition process. The science is clear: organic waste mixed with materials like plastic triggers methane release, making landfills potent contributors to climate change.
Operated by the Lagos State Waste Management Authority (LAWMA), these landfills are very massive in scale, covering over 16 hectares, an area even larger than the famous Tafawa Balewa Square (TBS). They are also strategically located within the densely populated Alimosho Local Government Area.
Daily, they receive about 4,000 tonnes of waste, making them the second-largest landfill complex in Lagos, surpassed only by the Olusosun dumpsite in Ojota. Initially, these landfills coexisted relatively unnoticed by the local populace.
However, as the city expanded, residential areas, businesses, and critical infrastructure like the Alimosho Medical Centre edged closer to these dumpsites. This proximity has turned the landfills from harmless landmarks into significant health hazards for the neighbouring communities. Residents in Igando now wake up to the pervasive and unpleasant smell of decomposing waste, a stark reminder of the growing environmental challenge at their doorstep.
However, the LAWMA’s managing director Ibrahim Odumboni has announced plans to relocate the landfills due to the increasing population and continuous grievances.
Sadly, amidst the debris, people sold various items from grilled meats popularly known as “suya” to chilled drinks.
The scavengers also eke a living amidst hazardous waste and overpowering stench, they worked without gloves or masks, exposing themselves to a myriad of health risks.