ASSESSMENT OF TEXTILE WASTE DISPOSAL IN LAGOS METROPOLIS

Abstract

In Nigeria, waste management has been an important aspect of urban management crises especially in Lagos, the commercial nerve of the country. Consumers discard many tonnes of textiles with out any idea of the implications on the environment. The purpose of the study how ever is to examine what constitutes textile was as well as assess how producers and consumers handle textile wastes disposal in Lagos metropolis. The research is a non-experimental study which adopted survey research design using Questionnaires that prompted responses from respondents within the study area. The target population for the research was in three groups which included textile consumers in Lagos metropolis (selected using random sampling technique), Lagos State Waste Management Authority (LAWMA), and Selected textile companies in Lagos namely Sunflag Nig Ltd, Qualitex Nig Ltd and Cotsyn Nig Ltd. Questionnaires based on a five-point Likert scale were administered to 8-textile consumers (estimated using Cochran equation) while interviews were conducted with LAWMA, and senior officials of the selected textile companies. Responses on the socio-economic and demographic characteristics of the respondents were analysed using percentile, while mean weighted score was employed in the analysis of the data obtained through the five-point Likert scale. The findings and conclusions of this study indicate that Pre-consumer textile wastes comprises trimmings, defected materials, and in-process/production waste, while post-consumer textile wastes comprises majorly of worn-out, out-dated, under-sized, faded and torn cloths, with less of over-sized clothes. Only 1 out of textile companies use their textile wastes for same process, but they all use the them to make other products as well as for internal purposes. Textile companies dispose of their textile wastes by using them as raw materials for other products, as well as sell them off at cheaper rates but only two out of three reprocess these wastes into other products before selling. All three textile companies discard their textile wastes in landfills, as well as recycle them, with none disposing of her textile wastes by burning. About two-thirds of textile consumers do not recycle their textile wastes, while the other one-third has no opinion. The study recommends that more effort should be channeled towards creating awareness on the importance of waste management vis--vis the Waste hierarchy. Textile manufacturing company should been courage to intensify recycling. LAWMA should include Textile wastes in her recycling activities as the current one only covers Cartons, Cans, Pet bottles, bottles, LDPE Sachets and Paper. The activities of LAWMA should be replicated in other states of the federation.