TOPIC: Waste disposal practices and attitudes of residents in Bariga local council

development area.

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1 Background of the Study

The rapid rate of urbanization in Nigeria and Lagos in particular has brought about several
problems amongst which management stands out. In Lagos, today the need for the sanitation and
solid waste disposal practices are urgent health concerns for the residents of the state. As these
grown, the strain on this service will intensify the problems.

Lagos is an international megacity in Nigeria with an ever-growing population and wide spread
environmental impact. It is a major financial center in Africa. Its economic growth and pace of
urbanization is continually changing the pattern of a range of resources. Significant quantities of
solid waste are produced which generation, collection and management threatens the prosperity
and sustainable development of the city. Lagos State Waste Management Authority (LAWMA)
was mandated to collect and transport commercial and industrial waste to designated landfill
sites as well as manages the landfills. In 1997, Private Sector Participation (PSP) scheme was
introduced to complement the efforts of LAWMA. The participants were assigned the
responsibility of door to door / bulk waste collection in all the Local Government Areas at fees to
be paid by serviced clients. For better performance, mega waste management companies were
integrated to collect waste from tenements, markets, parks, industries and commercial centers
within their zones for disposal at designated landfill sites. Cart pushers were equally integrated
into the program in an effort to cope with the enormity of the waste (Akinmuleya, 2006).

Waste disposal sites are mostly located in lowland areas close to residential areas inducing a
long-term risk of potential environmental contamination due to flooding. During recent flood
events, these areas were reportedly exposed to inundations. This paper aims to develop a
qualitative approach to assess flood risk associated with flood-prone waste disposals at the basis
of Bariga local council development area case studies. Risk is investigated as a function of the
probability of an event and the consequences of that event. The presented assessment approach is

1
characterized as qualitative as consequences are expressed in risk categories but not in expected
(monetary) losses. The probability of inundation, the hydrodynamic impacts on considered waste
disposal sites and the expected consequences to the environment (potential emissions of
hazardous substances) were linked. Derived risk categories from “minor risk” to “serious risk”
were used to express flood risk to environmental goods like groundwater bodies, nature reserves
and recreation areas. The study outlines that in case of flooding; the hazardous emissions could
lead to partly tremendous impacts on environmental goods. Identified uncertainties associated
with considered processes were considerably high. However, the developed qualitative approach
provides a decision support aid to identify waste disposals with imminent risk for humans and
the environment.

Lagos State still embraces the open land fill disposal method and unfortunately none of the waste
is sorted before disposal. The application of circular economy requires a rethink about the way
we currently consume product and services, reuse material through their lifecycle, redesigning
waste out of the industrial economy. In 2015, over 23 million inhabitants of Lagos produce large
amount of waste in form of paper, cardboard, plastics, metal, food and other materials which can
be recycled making many scavengers earn a difficult and potentially hazardous livelihood by
searching the landfill site for the materials (Akoni, 2015).

Waste is an unavoidable by product of human activities, economic development,

urbanization and improving living standards in cities, have led to an increase in the quantity
and complexity of generated waste. Rapid growth of urban population and industrialization in
developing Asian countries in recent years has degraded the urban environment and places
serious stress on natural resources, which undermines equitable and sustainable development
(Islam SMD et.al,2016). Generally, the highest amount of waste is generated within developed
countries is due to high population, and the lifestyle which contributes to waste generation
(Wang, 2014). For example, in America, they use an average of 2 kg (4.41 lbs.) per capita per
day of waste, compared to 0.37 kg (0.82 lbs.) per capita per day in less developed countries. As
such waste is effectively managed and the efficiency of waste management is in order and easy
to calculate the cost involved around waste management and any non-conformances are
dealt with. Highly industrialized countries such as the United States have developed advanced

2
waste management systems driven by demands for resource recovery, public health, and
environmental well-being (Wilson, 2007).
There are many types of waste — with the focus of this study on solid wastes, as opposed to
waste water and sewage. More specifically, our focus is on the management of solid wastes from
household sources and the interplay between household attitudes towards waste management
issues and waste management policy in Developing Country cities.

Solid household waste varies in composition and value over time and space. For example, what
may be considered waste by some people (plastic bottles used) may be regarded as a resource by
others (empty bottles for re-use) or as a valuable material (for sale) for the recycling industry.
Various other incidental influences form and guide the values placed on the waste. These are
discussed below. There are many factors that may contribute to a change in the composition of
the waste over time. These factors include seasonality of waste fractions, where certain types of
waste are generated in an above-average quantity over a short period of time (for example,
packaging waste during festive periods and local food produce during harvest season). Seasonal
changes in the composition of waste are rapid and last for a relatively short period of time.
Longer-term changes in the composition of waste occur in the form of a steady and sometimes
stealthy increase in the percentage of certain waste fractions (e.g. plastic fractions) over longer
periods from a few years to several decades.

Globally, the world's people are currently producing more garbage or solid waste that is now
testing the capacity of our landfills and studies have shown that traditional waste disposal
methods, such as the use of incinerators and garbage dumps, could negatively affect the
environment and our health. These negative effects are due to the gas emissions from
incinerators and the odors that are harmful. This need has in part been met by the 3Rs—Reduce,
Reuse and Recycle—which in terms of waste management mean:

 Reduce—as individuals we should buy only what we require thereby reducing the
household waste we produce.

 Reuse—if we need to acquire goods, purchasing used ones or eco-friendly substitutes is

encouraged or we can reuse our old packages in creative ways.

3
  Recycle—when discarding waste, we must consider ways of recycling or reusing them
before taking the last option which is to discard.

1.2 Statement of the Problem

Over the years, waste disposal has become a major problem, as effort has been made toward
effective and appropriate management since the 1970’s to the current time. Poor waste disposal
practice and absence of adequate waste dumpsite have resulted in the indiscriminate dumping of
waste refuse in drainage, both natural and man-made, roadsides and available spaces in Bariga
local council development area (L.C.D.A) in the rainy season which has poses a great problem
as a result of drainages being blocked.

Waste management is all the processes involved with managing waste, both solid and liquid
from its inception to its final disposal. The problem of efficiently managing waste is a global one
which means it is up to every individual to discuss the need for efficiency in a bid to raise
awareness on its effect on earth’s ecosystem.

The complexity of Lagos arising from the increase in population attention has to be given to
waste management practice in order to minimize the environmental hazards and prevent the
spread of diseases. Indiscriminate dumping of solid waste and failure of the collection system in
a populated community would soon cause health problems.

Inefficient and lack of disposal facilities are the common problems in developing countries, due
to the lack of resources to purchase high technology facilities to support waste management
activities, developing countries are more affected than developed countries.

The bottom line therefore is that, there must be a proper and effective management of waste
collection and disposal to ensure that waste disposal is accepted and effective. There is a strong
need for additional support of the waste management capacity building and regulation over
private contract vendors in the study area. Population growth protections for Lagos and the
greater metropolitan regions support an immediate action plan, for as the population grows, there
will be a proportional increase on solid waste.

4
1.3 Aim and Objectives

The main aim of the study is to assess the nature of waste disposal among residents of Bariga
Local Council Development Area. Specifically, the research objectives include the following.

1. Identify predominant waste disposal methods in Bariga Local Council Development

Area.
2. Evaluate the variation in resident perception of open dumping in the high and low elevation areas
of Bariga LCDA.
3. Assess the relationship between flooding and predominant waste disposal methods in the
area.
4. Establish the implications of the study for municipal waste and flood management.

1.4 Research Questions/Hypotheses

The understated research questions are raised in the course of this study:

i. What are the predominant waste disposal methods in the study area?
ii. What are the resident perceptions of open dumping in the study area?
iii. What is the significant relationship between predominant waste disposal methods and
flooding in the study area?
iv. What are the effects of flooding in the study area?

1.5 Scope of the Study

The scope of this study is limited to the investigation and assessment of solid waste disposal. The
scope of the study also extends to the identification of predominant solid waste disposal methods
in Bariga L.C.D.A of Lagos, which serves as a spatial area of study. This research is carried out
in order to ensure that the practice of reuse and recycle waste has been carried out in the study
area. This research is carried out by means of questionnaires and interviews to the relevant
respondents who have the skills and knowledge of the research subject. Not all respondents had
the knowledge that could contribute to the research topic because not many of the respondents
had the experience and knowledge of minimizing construction wastes.

5
1.6 Justification of the Study

Solid waste disposal has become a major development challenge in Bariga L.C.D.A in the recent
times. This deserves not only the attention of the Metropolitan Assembly and the waste
management institutions but also concerns of Cooperate organization and individuals to find a
lasting solution to the problem. This is because, vital human resource could be lost through poor
waste management and this will affect productivity in the study area. The study therefore intends
to explore appropriate strategies and recommendations in clearing solid waste in all segments in
Bariga L.C.D.A in a suitable manner. This will also help avert the possibility of health issues
from arising from improper management of wastes generated within the area and also tend to
create awareness on the benefits that can be accrued when wastes are effectively managed within
the environment.

1.7 Study Area

Bariga is a suburban community located within Somolu local government area of Lagos state,
southwestern Nigeria.

1.7.1 Geographical Location

It is geographical defined within latitudes 60 31 20 and 60 33 30 North and longitudes 30 22
0 and 30 24 0 East. It is bounded in the east by the Lagos lagoon, to the west by a Mushin
Local government and the Lagos Mainland and Kosofe local government areas to the south and
north respectively.

1.7.2 Physical Setting

1.7.2.1 Climate

The climate of the area fall within Koppen’s AF wet equatorial forest climate. Throughout the
year, temperature hardly falls below 200 C but averages about 220 C. The average annual
rainfall is above 1830mm with some local variations.

6
1.7.2.2 Relief and Drainage

Elevation around Bariga varies from about 2 meters to 10 meters above sea level. The study area
can be categorized as residential with spots of commercial and educational land uses.

1.7.3 Human Setting

As a key suburb of Lagos metropolis, movement of people from home to workplaces is the most
essential source of traffic and transportation related noise. Infrastructures particularly road-based
have remained quasi-constant over the years. Increase in the population of dwellers has not been
complemented with improvement on road traffic and related facilities. Thus, moving vehicles
oftentimes create the most noise.

Fig. 1: The Study Area in Context of Lagos Metropolis and Nigeria

Source: (Laboratory for Remote Sensing & Geographic Information System, UNILAG 2013)

7
1.8 Definition of Key Terms

Waste:

Waste is any substance or object which are disposed of or intended to be disposed of or need to
be disposed of (Sasikumar & Krishna, 2009).

Household:

A household is defined as a person or group of people staying together in the same dwelling unit
whether or not they are related by blood or marriage (ZimStat, 2012). The households are some
of the generators of solid waste.

Flood:

A flood is an overflow of water that submerges land that is usually dry.

Municipal Waste:

Municipal waste is defined as waste collected and treated by or for municipalities. It covers
waste from households, including bulky waste, similar waste from commerce and trade, office
buildings, institutions and small businesses, as well as yard and garden waste, street sweepings,
the contents of litter containers, and market cleansing waste if managed as household waste.