KEY POINTS
- Lagos generates 5.46 million tonnes of waste annually, largely from households.
- LAWMA is implementing a two-bin system to improve recycling efforts.
- The agency plans to increase recycling rates by 25 percent within three years.
The Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA) has revealed that Lagos residents generate an astonishing 5.46 million tonnes of waste each year.
Speaking at a stakeholders’ forum on sustainable waste management, Dr. Muyiwa Gbadegesin, Managing Director of LAWMA, highlighted the ongoing efforts to manage this overwhelming volume.
Waste management strategies
With a population of 23 million people, Lagos faces a significant challenge in managing waste. Gbadegesin announced that the state government plans to acquire 100 compressed natural gas trucks to support waste collection efforts led by private sector participants.
LAWMA’s current waste management strategy includes initiatives aimed at efficient waste collection, treatment, and disposal across the state.
Gbadegesin added, “We manage domestic, commercial, and medical waste, sweeping 963 routes and collecting solid waste from the city’s waterways and lagoons.”
According to Punch, LAWMA oversees waste collection through a network of 420 private sector partners, supported by 16,361 street sweepers who keep Lagos’s streets clean.
Advancing recycling efforts
As part of its waste recovery initiatives, LAWMA has introduced a two-bin system for households. This system separates general waste from recyclables, encouraging waste segregation at the source and reducing the amount of waste sent to landfills.
Gbadegesin noted that LAWMA has already established community recycling centers and is working with retail points to promote extended producer responsibility.
The agency is also exploring waste-to-energy projects, with plans to revive a biogas production plant at Ketu Fruit Market. Organic waste from the market will be converted into energy, contributing to Lagos’s sustainable energy goals.
Collaborative efforts for a cleaner Lagos
LAWMA is committed to transforming waste disposal facilities into eco-parks and waste treatment plants. The agency’s goal is to increase recycling rates by 25 percent within three years.
Speaking at the event, Special Adviser to the Governor on Environment, Rotimi Akodu, called for stronger collaboration between public and private sector stakeholders to achieve a cleaner Lagos.
Permanent Secretary for the Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources, Dr. Omobolaji Gaji, emphasized the urgency of addressing Lagos’s environmental challenges, urging residents to work with the government to create a sustainable future.
