A survey of operational characteristics, socioeconomic and health effects of scavenging activity in Lagos, Nigeria

Abstract

This study presents the social, economic, health and environmental implications of solid waste scavenging activity in Olusosun, one of the government's designated open waste dumpsites in Lagos, Nigeria. Using incidental or convenience sampling methods of questionnaire administration, 112 scavengers were sampled. It was established that scavenging on the site was only possible through registration with an associate on site. Recovering items from hills of waste involved physical energy and the use of manually-operated rudimentary equipment. Thus, 87% of the scavengers were males in their early twenties (minimum age = 19 years; maximum age = 35 years; mean = 26.7 years; SD = 4.2). The daily mean income from the exercise was Naira 480.80 (Naira 160 = $1.00). The most important method of arriving at the selling prices of the scavenged products was the use of scale measurement. Although the scavengers were aware that scavenging exposed them to both environmental and health hazards, they continued scavenging for economic and social reasons. The study concluded that because of the level of employment provided and the large number of people directly involved (1243 on this site alone), outright banning, even when the open dump is closed down, without rehabilitating the scavengers will constitute a social, economic and security threat to the community. Scavenging should, therefore, be integrated fully into the waste-management system and regulated.

From Waste to Resource: The Trade in Wastes and Global Recycling Economies

“…86,87,88,89,90]. It reiterates many of the findings of the earlier wave of literature in development studies.…”

Formalising informal solid waste recycling at the Pomona dumpsite in Harare, Zimbabwe

“…The HCC did not discriminate based on sex . On the contrary, at a dumpsite in Lagos, Nigeria, 86.6% of interviewed waste‐pickers were males (Afon, ). At a dumpsite in Gaborone, Botswana, 90% were males doing a job that Rankokwane and Gwebu () described as having dangers, which possibly discouraged females from doing it.…”

“…At a dumpsite in Gaborone, Botswana, 90% were males doing a job that Rankokwane and Gwebu () described as having dangers, which possibly discouraged females from doing it. But at Pomona, the age range of 30–39 years was made up of an equal number of male and female waste‐pickers while in Lagos, there was no female waste‐picker interviewed who was over 30 years of age (Afon, ).…”

A review and framework for understanding the potential impact of poor solid waste management on health in developing countries

“…Dumping sites are a source of economic livelihood to many who pick and retrieve articles that they consider valuable to them or the market for direct use or recycling [25, 52]. Retrieved articles range from clothes, household utensils, food, ornaments and scrap metal and plastics among others.…”