We Will Generate More Economic Value through Recycling – LAWMA MD

…agency to establish Waste to Energy Plant in Epe

The Managing Director/CEO of the Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA), Dr. Muyiwa Gbadegesin, has restated the Authority’s commitment to maximizing the potentials in circular economy, through transition from traditional waste management to a modernized system.

He also disclosed that the Authority would be establishing a waste to energy plant in Epe, with the Olusosun and Solus-3 landfills, to become material recovery facilities.

Gbadegesin said this during a radio interview  over the weekend, hosted by the Lateef Jakande Leadership Academy, on Eko FM, Agidingbi, Lagos .

Speaking on the topic, “War on Waste, Exploring LAWMA’s Vision and Mission’’, the LAWMA boss explained that the Authority was determined to transform the waste management system, from the point of collection to disposal, while also providing innovative waste management solutions.

He said: ‘The idea of war on waste was to dissuade residents from indiscriminate dumping of waste, considering waste as something that is still useful and should not be thrown away. Materials such as plastics, paper, aluminum cans, and even textiles are all valuable materials people ought to value because they can be turned into a resource. We have realized that the total percentage of recycling in Lagos is not up to 10 percent, even with the activities of scavengers on landfills. The huge value in recycling cannot be taken with levity because of the population in Lagos, there is a need for us to generate more economic value and create job opportunities which can all be achieved in green waste management.

“To promote sustainability, we need more material recovery facilities . Our  partnership  with Ghana’s Jospong Group has paved way for us to establish  advanced waste management facilities. Sooner, a major landfill in Epe will be replaced with a waste to energy plant . The facility will convert 2,500 tons of waste daily, into 60 to 80 megawatts of electricity, powering the Free Trade Zone, deep sea port, Dangote Refinery, and other key industrial hubs.

“In the next 18 months, we will set up facilities at Ojota and Igando, to separate waste into valuable fractions like organic materials and metals. This is to ensure  waste is no longer  buried in landfills but turned into resources.  When these facilities are ready, they will help create jobs and foster economic growth’’, he stressed.

Gbadegesin also cited the establishment of LAWMA Academy, Adopt–a bin system in the waste collection process, and the involvement of over 400 PSP operators collecting household waste, as innovations and progressive achievements, the Authority had leveraged overtime.

He recalled that “ LAWMA Academy was commissioned three years ago, as an educational arm of the agency, to teach waste management education to children and teenagers. Over the years, the academy has been propagating the gospel of positive environmental consciousness to primary and secondary schools, and has produced worthy environment ambassadors, who have passed through the Academy. Also, with the Adopt a bin system, residents have been encouraged to separate their waste at source and proper waste containerization has been enhanced. This has facilitated easy waste collection by PSP operators, who collect the waste from households. In order to improve their operations, the Lagos State Governor has promised to add many CNG trucks to their fleet for more efficiency.”

The LAWMA boss added that achieving a cleaner and sustainable Lagos city required collective responsibility, urging residents to support LAWMA’s initiatives and to adopt environment friendly waste management practices.