FAAN launches airport recycling drive to cut waste

The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has launched a waste recycling programme at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos, as part of efforts to reduce landfill waste, lower carbon emissions and improve environmental sustainability.

Speaking at the launch on Wednesday, FAAN Managing Director, Mrs Olubunmi Kuku, said the airport generated 1,446 tonnes of waste in 2023 and 1,383 tonnes in 2024, with almost all of it ending up in landfills without being recycled.

She said the new initiative marks the beginning of a comprehensive circular economy programme designed to ensure waste generated at the airport is sorted, recycled and converted into reusable resources.

According to Kuku, the programme will be implemented in three phases. The first phase introduces colour-coded recycling bins inside airport terminals to encourage waste separation at source. The second phase will deploy larger outdoor recycling bins across the airport, while the final phase will involve certified recycling firms collecting and processing plastics, glass, metal cans and organic waste.

She said the initiative would not only reduce the volume of waste sent to landfills but also lower operational costs by promoting the reuse of recyclable materials.

Kuku added that FAAN plans to build on the programme with a future waste-to-power project that will convert waste into energy.

Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, described the initiative as a step towards aligning Nigeria’s airports with global environmental standards.

He noted that international aviation bodies, including the Airports Council International (ACI) and the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO), are encouraging airports worldwide to adopt cleaner and greener operations.

Keyamo commended FAAN for embracing sustainable waste management, noting that several airports around the world have already adopted zero-emission and environmentally friendly practices.

Chairman of the FAAN Board, Dr Abdullahi Ganduje, pledged the board’s support to ensure the long-term success and sustainability of the recycling programme.