Environmental and Health Hazards Perception of Improper Domestic Waste Disposal in Ikorodu Local Council Development Areas, Lagos State, Nigeria

Domestic waste disposal constitutes a major environmental/public health concern in the global space, especially among emerging communities. Waste generation and management practices depend on people’s lifestyle and on the population density. The World Health Organisation (WHO) often warns of the impending health and psychological hazards from environmental pollution, and the economic burden of its responsive mitigation/management practices. Improper waste disposal results in epidemic disease outbreaks that trigger serious health, environmental and economic (financial cost) implications among global communities. This study identified the solid waste management strategies adopted by residential households in Ikorodu rural suburb area of Lagos State, Nigeria, and evaluated the extent of environmental and economic effects of improper waste disposal on the surveyed households. Primary data were obtained from households’ female spouses in the rural suburb households, using mixed methods - structured questionnaire and key informant interview (KII) - in a multistage sampling technique. Simple descriptive statistics and multinomial logit (MNL) model were used to analyse the study data. Most household spouses were married (52%); educated (49%); formal sector livelihood means participants (81%); and had a moderate household size (mean = 5 members). Burning of solid waste (62.5%) and dumping in pits (16.7%), open fields (7.5%), and nearby natural water bodies (13.3%) were rampant practices among residential houses; while liquid wastes were largely channelled to public drainage facilities and water bodies within the emerging local communities. Irregular visits of sanitation officials and public waste managers to the residential areas were reported, signalling high environmental and epidemic risk concerns. Mixed factors propelled household members’ disposition to respiratory complications; environmental irritation, food/water contamination and ill-health, resulting from pests/rodents triggered by improper waste management practices. Communal use of waste evacuation facilities and orientation programmes among residents were recommended for mitigating the environmental/health hazards of improper waste disposal.