Lagos is grappling with persistent waste collection problems as ageing disposal facilities, long haulage distances and pressure on existing infrastructure leave refuse accumulating in parts of the state.
The challenge has become particularly visible in residential communities and along some roads, where residents have complained about delayed collection. A recent report by GST highlighted complaints from Lagosians who said refuse had remained uncollected for months in some locations, raising fresh concerns about the capacity of the state’s waste system.
The pressure is substantial. Lagos generates between 13,000 and 15,000 tonnes of waste every day, according to the Lagos Waste Management Authority, which has acknowledged that ageing landfills, increasing waste volumes, heavy rainfall and inadequate disposal infrastructure have contributed to recent collection difficulties.
Brandspur Brand News reports that two major disposal facilities, Olusosun and Solous III, have reached the end of their operational lives, forcing the state to manage existing capacity while developing alternatives.
For residents, problems at the disposal end of the system can quickly become problems on their streets. Waste collection trucks must transport refuse to designated facilities, and poor access or congestion at those sites increases turnaround time, delaying their return to communities for additional collections.
LAWMA acknowledged such difficulties at Olusosun in July, saying heavy rainfall had damaged access roads and restricted the movement of compactor trucks, contributing to delays in waste evacuation across parts of Lagos.
The state has since rehabilitated Road E and developed additional disposal platforms at Olusosun in an attempt to ease the bottleneck. LAWMA says the intervention is intended to improve truck access and speed up waste evacuation.
The bigger challenge is what replaces Lagos’ ageing dumpsites.
The government plans to gradually decommission Olusosun rather than shut it abruptly, arguing that alternative infrastructure must first be capable of absorbing the enormous amount of refuse currently passing through the facility.
Two modern Transfer Loading Stations are being developed at Olusosun and Solous III, with each designed to process 2,500 metric tonnes of waste daily. Lagos is also pursuing Material Recovery Facilities, waste-to-energy projects, biogas facilities and additional compactor trucks as it attempts to move away from dependence on conventional dumpsites.
The stakes extend beyond unsightly refuse heaps. Poorly disposed waste can obstruct drainage channels, making effective waste collection particularly important during Lagos’ rainy season, when flooding already presents a major challenge to communities and transport networks.
The scale of the problem means infrastructure upgrades will have to keep pace with the volume of waste entering the system. LAWMA said its disposal facilities received more than 418,500 tonnes in May 2026 alone.
There have been signs of improved evacuation since the Olusosun intervention. LAWMA reported that more than 18,660 tonnes of municipal waste were evacuated across its disposal facilities between July 28 and August 3, following rehabilitation work at Olusosun.
For millions of Lagos residents, however, the measure of success will ultimately be much closer to home: whether refuse is collected reliably before it piles up on streets, around markets and within communities.
