Lagos plans waste-to-energy plants to replace landfills
The Lagos State Government plans to phase out ageing landfills and replace them with material recovery facilities and waste-to-energy plants as part of efforts to modernise waste management across the state.
The Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA), Muyiwa Gbadegesin, disclosed this at the agency’s mid-year media briefing in Lagos on Tuesday.
Etim Ekpimah
The Lagos State Government plans to phase out ageing landfills and replace them with material recovery facilities and waste-to-energy plants as part of efforts to modernise waste management across the state.
The Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA), Muyiwa Gbadegesin, disclosed this at the agency’s mid-year media briefing in Lagos on Tuesday.
Gbadegesin said several major landfill sites were nearing the end of their operational lifespan, with flooding and declining capacity worsening waste disposal challenges.
He said the state was implementing engineering measures to extend the lifespan of existing facilities while developing alternatives, including transfer loading stations, material recovery facilities and waste-to-energy plants.
According to him, two major transfer loading stations are being developed at Olusosun and Solous. The Olusosun facility is expected to handle up to 2,500 tonnes of waste daily in a controlled indoor environment.
Gbadegesin said the government also planned to establish a waste-to-energy plant in Badagry and develop large-scale material recovery facilities in Ikorodu and Badagry.
He explained that the facilities would sort waste and recover recyclable materials such as plastics, metals and textiles, while organic waste would be processed into compost.
The initiative, he said, would support Lagos’ transition towards a circular economy and reduce its dependence on landfills.
On waste collection, Gbadegesin said LAWMA had added 10 trucks to its fleet and expected 150 additional compactor trucks before the end of the year to strengthen collection capacity across the state.
He also disclosed that the government had begun reforms of the Private Sector Participation waste collection scheme to improve efficiency and service delivery.
Gbadegesin reaffirmed Lagos’ zero-tolerance policy towards indiscriminate waste disposal, saying 259 environmental offenders were prosecuted and convicted between January and July.
He said the state would continue to prioritise waste sorting, recycling, material recovery and waste-to-energy projects as part of its long-term strategy for sustainable waste management.
