Waste generation is an inevitable byproduct of the flow and exchange of energy and materials between nature and society in urban ecosystems. Whether it’s materials at the end of a production cycle or waste from consumption, urban areas often face an overwhelming accumulation of waste that surpasses their management capacity, leading to pollution and environmental degradation.
Nigeria faces a significant waste management problem, generating an estimated 32 million tons of solid waste annually, with only 20-30 percent being properly collected and managed. The country fares worse in waste management compared to the World Bank’s estimate for average waste collection in Sub-Saharan Africa, which stands at 44 percent.
In seeking solutions to this menace, a common question arises: Who is responsible for the high volume of waste generated and its improper disposal? This question often sparks polarising views.
Some attribute Nigeria’s poor waste management practices to the ‘nonchalant’ behaviour of its citizens. This sentiment typically surfaces during environmental crises. For instance, during the last rainy season, Nigerian media (X) was flooded with an image of Lagos residents allegedly disposing of waste into floodwaters. Outraged netizens called for stringent repercussions, prompting a swift response from the Lagos Waste Management Authority. However, the situation was later revealed to be based on hearsay and quickly became entangled in political biases.
This story exemplifies the Nigerian approach to urban challenges—focusing on minor issues while overlooking the major ones. In the call for disciplinary action against the supposed residents, little attention was paid to the fact that the flooding itself was a failure of the government’s urban waste management strategy. Who holds the government accountable?
Effective urban waste management requires a rethink and redesign of the systems and processes that shape urban interactions. The traditional linear model of ‘take, use, and dispose’ has become obsolete and must be replaced by a circular model, where waste is treated as a resource, continuously cycled through the economy. To achieve this transition, new standards, policies, and systems must be implemented to capture waste at its source and reintroduce it as feedstock into industries that can utilise it. Unfortunately, this framework is largely absent in Nigeria, and urban residents cannot be blamed for the lack of these facilities.
Is there a need for a shift in how urban residents perceive waste? Yes. But can this alone substitute for an efficient waste management framework? Absolutely not.
The government must take the lead in creating an enabling environment where circularity can thrive before blaming citizens who struggle with finding basic waste infrastructure, like waste bins, in public spaces. Blaming citizens for improper waste disposal ignores the fact that they are often left with few options due to the government’s failure to provide even the most essential waste management resources.
If our leaders do not lead, who will?