Waste Dumps and Their Management in Lagos Metropolis

Abstract

This paper has identified major sources of wastes, compositions and the challenges posed. The schemes for evacuation and disposal of wastes and management of dumps have not been realistic or effective in the Metropolis. Wastes are often widely indiscriminately dumped- measuring 784 x 625 x 22 m³ at Ojota, 801 x 649 x 23m³ at Oke Odo, 732 x 622 x 17m³ at LASU Road and66 x 582 x 28m³ at Oke Afa. The Oke Afa dump is the oldest in the metropolis. The composition is organic and inorganic, degradable and non-degradable. Though they are of some benefits to large number of scavengers, they are of great challenges to the governments and people of all works of life in the metropolis generally and the entire vicinities in particular. The paper is of the opinion that dumping of waste at built-up areas within the metropolis should stop immediately; and recommends alternatives. There must be effective logistics for collection, transportation and eventual management at designated Dumps that should locate outside the built–up areas. At such locations Governments and investors should be supported and encouraged to build fertilizer plants that will make use of the degradable and organic wastes while the non degradable could be separated and compressed as raw materials for other plants. It is hoped that more Lagosians other than scavengers will be positively massively gainfully engaged.