Lagos: A Graveyard Of Plastics

Kaosar. O.M
Aug 23, 2017 · 2 min read
A street in Surulere after a heavy rainfall

In Lagos, one of those rainy July mornings, the city was submerged in flood. Discarded pure water nylon, plastic bottles, spoons and all manner of debris floated freely on streets in areas like Surulere, Ajegunle, Ijora Badia, Iyana Ipaja making everywhere impassable for residents.

Sights like these are very common in Lagos where waste management is very poor :

IN PICTURES: Areas in Lagos where poor waste disposal is prevalent.

Often, Lagos residents are seen throwing biscuit wraps, plastic bottles, nylon bags through their cars or public transport windows while commuting. Over time, this has contributed to clogged drainage systems when it rains.
Some residents say late pick up of waste by Lagos State Waste Management Authority (LAWMA), a government agency whose waste management arm was privatized some years ago, contributes to the pile of dirt that litters the state.

Poor waste management has contributed to outbreak of Lassa fever as rodents who feast on the pile of rubbish often come in contact with food stored in some homes.

VOX POP: People share how they dispose their wastes.

Experts say that the easiest way to solve waste disposal in Lagos is recycling. Mr Olumide Idowu, founder, Climate Wednesday says: “The effect of waste and poor waste disposal is rampant and it is going to cause a lot of havoc if we don’t take instant and immediate action. It’s actually a time bomb on our part and generation to come.”

AUDIO (LISTEN): Interview with Mr Olumide Idowu, founder, Climate Wednesday.

Here are five ways to manage waste properly:

HOW TO SORT WASTES FOR RECYCLING

• People should be educated on how to properly dispose their wastes without littering the streets.
• Government should put in place enabling laws that will guide how wastes are disposed.
• Vehicles, waste baskets and cans should be placed at strategic places and the wastes should be collected and disposed on time, so that the place of collection does not become another dumpsite.
• With recycling companies existing in Nigeria, people should be taught and encouraged on how to recycle their waste.

  • Incentives should be provided for proper waste disposal because it is the easiest way to getting people to obey instructions.

Report by Team Lagos Sunshine

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Kaosar. O.M

Written by

A StoryTeller/Journalist

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