Irregular waste collection by Private Sector Participation (PSP) operators is forcing some residents across Lagos State to rely on informal waste collectors, commonly known as cart pushers, despite concerns over improper refuse disposal.
Residents who spoke with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) said cart pushers often respond faster when called, making them a convenient alternative when official waste collection services fail.
However, many residents expressed worry that some informal collectors dispose of waste illegally by dumping refuse on roads, inside drainage channels and other unauthorised locations.
A resident of Harmony Estate, Ikeja, Ikeja, Lovelyn Mbah, said she still prefers using PSP operators but complained about their inconsistent collection schedules.
Mbah said her estate had gone for about two months without seeing a waste collection truck, leaving the area overwhelmed by accumulated refuse.
“My estate is beginning to look like a homeless camp,” she said, adding that the situation could eventually force residents to patronise cart pushers because of their quicker response.
She suggested that informal waste collectors should be integrated into the formal waste management system if they are properly trained, regulated and monitored.
According to her, cart pushers provide a useful service because they respond quickly when residents need urgent waste evacuation.
She, however, noted that some operators engage in unsafe disposal practices, including emptying waste into gutters and roads.
Mbah called on PSP operators to improve collection frequency, affordability and response to residents’ complaints.
Another resident, Kemi Agbeke, who lives around Alake-Ikotun-Idimu Road, said many households in the area had depended on cart pushers for about three years because PSP trucks rarely visit.
“We haven’t used PSP trucks for about three years. We only use cart pushers,” she said.
Chidimma Ogbodo, a resident of Ireku, Oworonshoki, in Kosofe Local Government Area, also blamed irregular formal waste collection for residents’ dependence on informal collectors.
She said PSP operators had not visited her area for nearly three months.
A cart pusher identified as Irabo said he previously collected household waste and transported it to Olusosun Landfill but lost access to the facility.
He said operators were often chased away whenever they attempted to enter the disposal area.
Irabo explained that he had since stopped collecting household waste and now focused on gathering recyclable materials such as plastics.
Meanwhile, some residents said they had deliberately avoided cart pushers because of environmental concerns.
Arnong Edet, a resident of the Eyinogun-Iyemoja area of Mafoluku, said he preferred PSP operators because he believed they were more likely to dispose of waste at approved locations.
Edet accused some informal collectors of dumping refuse into gutters, especially during rainfall, creating blocked drainage systems and worsening flooding risks.
He said the prolonged absence of PSP services had resulted in piles of waste accumulating around communities.
According to him, the situation had attracted flies and maggots, affecting residents’ health and quality of life.
Edet urged the Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA) to explain delays in waste evacuation and improve monitoring across neighbourhoods.
Another resident, Maria Uchegbu of Ishola Daniel Street, Orile Oshodi, criticised cart pushers over what she described as careless disposal methods.
She said refuse heaps had blocked access roads and created unpleasant conditions for nearby residents.
Uchegbu called on LAWMA to strengthen street monitoring and enforce environmental regulations against illegal dumping.
In response, LAWMA said heavy rainfall affected access routes around Olusosun, slowing down truck operations and causing temporary delays in waste evacuation.
The agency said it had introduced measures including road rehabilitation, additional disposal platforms, improved truck movement and stronger evacuation arrangements.
LAWMA added that it was working with PSP operators, local government authorities, private sector partners and the Association of Waste Managers of Nigeria to improve waste management services.
The agency also said it had intensified enforcement activities, including arrests and prosecution of environmental offenders involved in illegal dumping.
LAWMA advised residents to patronise only accredited PSP operators and avoid unregistered waste collectors.
With waste piling up in some communities, Lagos residents continue to face a difficult choice between the convenience offered by informal collectors and the environmental risks associated with unregulated waste disposal.
