1.1 Introduction
Waste management refers to the proper collection, storage, transportation, treatment, recycling, and final disposal of waste in ways that protect people and the environment. Waste includes materials such as household refuse, plastics, food remains, industrial waste, and other discarded materials. Environmental health focuses on conditions in the surroundings that affect human health, including clean air, safe water, sanitation, and a pollution-free environment (World Health Organization, 2022). In Nigeria, poor waste management remains a visible environmental problem, particularly in areas where waste collection and disposal services are inadequate. Waste is often dumped on roadsides, in drainage channels, open spaces, and waterways, while some wastes are openly burned. The World Bank reports that Nigeria faces significant gaps in waste collection, segregation, recycling, and safe disposal, resulting in widespread environmental pollution and related health risks (World Bank, 2024).
As a prelude to other parts of this study, this chapter will discuss the background upon which this study was initiated, the statement of problems that led to this study, the aim and objectives of the study. Others are significance of the study, scope of work, research hypothesis and questions, limitation of the study and definition of terms.
1.2 Background of Study
Historically, waste management in Nigeria can be traced to the pre-colonial period when waste disposal was mainly handled at the household and community level. According to the World Health Organization (WHO, 2022), poorly managed solid waste is associated with contamination of air, water, and soil, while poor collection may block drainage channels and create conditions that encourage flooding and the spread of diseases. Effective waste management is therefore an important part of environmental health because the way waste is handled directly affects the quality of the surroundings in which people live and work. In simple terms, when waste is properly managed, the environment remains cleaner and safer, but when waste is poorly handled, it becomes a source of pollution and health problems.
In Nigeria, the increasing amount of waste generated every day has made waste management an important environmental concern. Rapid population growth, urbanization, commercial activities, and changes in consumption patterns have contributed to the continuous production of household and commercial waste. The World Bank (2024) reported that Nigeria's waste management system faces major challenges involving inadequate collection, open dumping, indiscriminate burning, limited infrastructure, and weak institutional capacity.
Poor waste management is often seen in the form of dumping refuse on roadsides, vacant plots, drainage channels, markets, waterways, and other unauthorized locations. In some communities, residents dispose of waste in open spaces because appropriate collection facilities are unavailable or because waste disposal habits have become difficult to change. Ichipi and Senekane (2023) reported that illegal dumping in Nigeria is influenced by factors such as urbanization, poor waste disposal practices, inadequate waste education, negative public attitudes, and insufficient waste collection services. On the other hand, the problem is not only caused by individual behaviour. It is also connected with weaknesses in waste collection systems, availability of disposal facilities, monitoring, and enforcement of environmental regulations.
Xu (2024) stated that environmental regulations have greater practical effects when appropriate waste facilities are provided, showing that rules alone may not be sufficient to achieve proper waste disposal (Xu, 2024). The environmental consequences of poor waste management are considerable. When refuse is dumped in drainage channels, it reduces the free movement of storm water and may contribute to flooding during heavy rainfall. Waste deposited in open spaces may also produce offensive odours and make communities unattractive.
The WHO (2021) stated that waste management practices such as open burning can affect the health and well-being of people who work with waste or live and work around waste sites. Continuous exposure to polluted air may affect respiratory health and reduce the general quality of the environment. The problem is therefore not limited to the visible presence of refuse, as harmful substances may also enter the air and affect people who are not directly involved in waste disposal.
The health effects of poor waste management have also been observed among people living close to waste disposal areas. Audi et al. (2024), in their study of communities around a dumpsite in the Federal Capital Territory, reported health conditions including diarrhoea, cholera, and malaria among residents. Likewise, Issa et al. (2024) examined municipal waste management workers in Warri, Delta State, and emphasized the health risks associated with occupational exposure to waste. These findings indicate that the consequences of poor waste management are experienced by both ordinary residents and people whose work involves handling waste. The problem is further complicated by the expected increase in waste generation as Nigeria's population and urban areas continue to grow. The World Bank (2024) projected that municipal solid waste generation in Nigeria could double from 2021 levels by 2040 if current trends continue.
This study is set against the backdrop of the continuing challenges of waste generation, inadequate disposal facilities, indiscriminate dumping, open burning, environmental pollution, and the associated risks to environmental health in Nigeria.
1.3 Statement of Problems
Investigation revealed that poor waste management remains a major environmental problem in Nigeria, as waste is often dumped in open spaces, roadsides, drainage channels, and waterways. Also, accumulated waste blocks drainage systems and contributes to flooding, unpleasant surroundings, and the spread of disease-causing organisms. In addition, open dumping and burning of waste contribute to air, land, and water pollution, creating serious risks to environmental health (World Bank, 2024).
Furthermore, the continued practice of indiscriminate dumping and open burning shows that waste management remains a challenge requiring greater attention from government, communities, and other stakeholders. On the other hand, poor waste management places greater pressure on public health and reduces the quality of the environment in affected communities. It is against this backdrop that this study seeks to examine the effects of poor waste management on environmental health in Nigeria.
1.4 Aim and Objectives of Study
The aim of this study is to examine the effects of poor waste management on environmental health in Nigeria.
The specific objectives of this research are to:
- Examine the major waste management practices adopted in selected communities in Nigeria.
- Determine the effects of poor waste management on environmental health.
- Identify the factors responsible for poor waste management in the study area.
- Assess the major environmental and health problems associated with poor waste disposal.
- Examine measures for improving waste management and environmental health in the study area.
1.5 Research Questions
The study came up with research questions so as to be able to ascertain the above stated objectives. The specific research questions for the study are stated below as follows:
- What are the major waste management practices adopted in the study area?
- What are the effects of poor waste management on environmental health?
- What factors are responsible for poor waste management in the study area?
- What are the major environmental and health problems associated with poor waste disposal?
- What measures are suitable for improving waste management and environmental health in the study area?
1.6 Research Hypotheses
In order to pursue the objective of this study, the following generalized statements have been designed to guide and aids in obtaining the result for the experiment to be conducted. For this work, the null hypothesis will be represented with H0 while the alternative hypothesis will be represented with hypothesis H1.
Hypothesis One
- H0: There is no significant relationship between waste management practices and environmental health in the study area.
- H1: There is a significant relationship between waste management practices and environmental health in the study area.
Hypothesis Two
- H0: Poor waste management has no significant effect on environmental health in the study area.
- H1: Poor waste management has a significant effect on environmental health in the study area.
Hypothesis Three
- H0: There are no significant factors responsible for poor waste management in the study area.
- H1: There are significant factors responsible for poor waste management in the study area.
Hypothesis Four
- H0: Poor waste disposal has no significant relationship with environmental and health problems in the study area.
- H1: Poor waste disposal has a significant relationship with environmental and health problems in the study area.
Hypothesis Five
- H0: Waste management improvement measures have no significant effect on environmental health in the study area.
- H1: Waste management improvement measures have a significant effect on environmental health in the study area.
1.7 Significance of Study
It is believed that at the completion of the study, the findings will provide clear information about how poor waste management affects environmental health. The study will also show common problems linked to improper waste disposal, including pollution, blocked drainage, flooding, and exposure to harmful waste.
Furthermore, the study will provide useful information for government authorities when planning waste collection and disposal services. It will also assist environmental health officers in identifying common waste-related problems in communities.
Lastly, the findings will add to existing academic information on waste management and environmental health in Nigeria. The study will serve as useful material for students and researchers working on related topics.
1.8 Scope of Study
This study focuses on the effects of poor waste management on environmental health, using Lagos State Waste Management Authority (LAWMA), Lagos State, as the organizational focus. The study covers waste collection, disposal, indiscriminate dumping, open burning, blocked drainage, environmental pollution, disease risks, and measures for improving waste management.
The study is limited to selected residents, waste management personnel, and relevant environmental health officials within Lagos State.
1.9 Limitations of the Study
During the course of this study, there were some problems encountered which stood as limitations to the research work. Some of the limitations include:
- Time Constraint: The time frame given to accomplish this project was very short due to school academic calendar and it was carried out under pressure which made the researcher not to implement some necessary features.
- Financial Constraint: Insufficient fund tends to impede the efficiency of the researcher in sourcing for the relevant materials, literature or information and in the process of data collection (internet, questionnaire and interview).
- Initial Cooperation Delay from Respondents: A particular limitation of this work came as a result of the respondent refusal to offer their cooperation at the initial time they were contacted. This contributed in making the success of this research study difficult.
1.10 Definition of Terms
Waste:
Waste refers to materials that are discarded because they are no longer considered useful to the person or organization generating them. It includes household refuse, food waste, plastics, paper, industrial materials, and other unwanted materials (World Health Organization, 2022).
Waste Management:
Waste management is the organized process of collecting, transporting, treating, recycling, and disposing of waste in a manner that protects people and the environment. Proper management reduces the risks associated with uncontrolled waste disposal (World Bank, 2024).
Poor Waste Management:
Poor waste management refers to the improper collection, handling, transportation, treatment, or disposal of waste. It includes indiscriminate dumping, open burning, and disposal of refuse in drainage channels and waterways.
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