Operational Deficiencies and Environmental Implications of Domestic Solid Waste Collection in Public Housing Estates in Lagos

This study investigated operational deficiencies and their environmental implications in domestic solid waste collection across twelve density-stratified public housing estates in Lagos Metropolis, Nigeria. Anchored in the Service Quality (SERVQUAL) framework, the study employed a cross-sectional survey design, administering structured questionnaires to 352 residents across low-, medium-, and high-density estates. Eight waste collection adequacy indicators were assessed using a five-point Likert scale and analysed through descriptive statistics and one-sample t-tests in IBM SPSS Statistics v26. Findings revealed that while waste collection reliability (M = 2.05; SD = 0.980) and frequency (M = 2.13; SD = 0.960) were rated adequate, significant deficiencies persisted in irregular collection scheduling (M = 3.78), waste spillage during collection (M = 3.32), and overflowing bins (M = 3.11). Most critically, widespread adoption of informal disposal practices — including open burning, illegal dumping, and drainage channel disposal — recorded the highest inadequacy mean (M = 4.18; SD = 1.199), carrying severe public health and environmental consequences. The study contributes a density-responsive assessment of waste service quality gaps in sub-Saharan African cities and recommends integrated, frequency-differentiated waste management strategies, enhanced waste containment infrastructure, and targeted resident sensitisation programmes.