Municipal Solid Waste Management in Lagos and Moscow: A Comprehensive Comparative Analysis

This comparative analysis examines municipal solid waste management (MSWM) systems in Lagos, Nigeria, and Moscow, Russia—two major metropolitan areas representing distinct socioeconomic contexts but facing similar waste management challenges. The study investigates waste generation patterns, collection systems, recycling approaches, public participation, environmental impacts, and governance frameworks in both cities.

Lagos operates a hybrid system combining formal authorities (LAWMA) with informal waste collectors who provide critical collection services and drive resource recovery where formal systems fall short. The city faces projections of generating 13 million tonnes of municipal waste by 2025, with significant environmental contamination and occupational health hazards for waste workers. Moscow employs a more centralized, technology-focused approach emphasizing waste-to-energy initiatives and circular economy principles, though implementation faces substantial public resistance to technologies like incineration.

Both cities struggle with inadequate waste segregation, public awareness gaps, and environmental concerns despite their different approaches. Lagos benefits from an adaptable informal economy that creates livelihoods and material recovery pathways, while Moscow pursues formal environmental assessments and technological solutions. The analysis reveals that while Lagos must integrate its informal sector into policy frameworks, Moscow faces challenges with public trust and technology acceptance. Both cities require tailored strategies addressing their unique cultural and systemic contexts to achieve sustainable waste management.