Assessment of Polyethylene Waste Recycling Practices and Their Environmental Impact in Lagos State

Plastic waste management has become a critical environmental challenge in Nigerian urban centres, with polyethylene constituting a dominant fraction of municipal solid waste. This study assesses polyethylene waste recycling practices and their environmental implications in Lagos State, South West Nigeria, focusing on informal recycling clusters operating within the Mushin and Alimosho local government areas. Primary data were collected through structured questionnaires administered to 120 recyclers, complemented by direct observation of sorting, washing, shredding, and pelletising operations. Laboratory analysis was conducted on recycled pellets to evaluate melt flow index, tensile strength retention, and contamination levels relative to virgin polyethylene grades. The study also examined airborne particulate emissions and effluent discharge from washing operations using standardised environmental monitoring protocols. Findings reveal that informal recyclers recover approximately 65 percent of collected polyethylene by weight, though quality degradation remains a persistent challenge due to multi-cycle reprocessing and inadequate contamination removal. Environmental monitoring identified particulate matter concentrations exceeding recommended thresholds within processing sites, posing occupational health risks. Water effluents from washing operations lacked pre-treatment prior to discharge, contributing to local drainage contamination. The study recommends the formalisation of recycling clusters, investment in basic filtration infrastructure, and implementation of occupational safety training programmes. Policy recommendations include integrating informal recyclers into formal waste management frameworks to improve both material recovery rates and environmental compliance standards across South West Nigeria. Keywords: polyethylene recycling, plastic waste, informal sector, environmental impact, Lagos