By Faridat Salifu
As Lagos State gears up for a significant shift in its waste management strategy, the Lagos State Waste Management Authority (LAWMA) has reassured residents that the planned closure of the Olusosun dump site in Ojota and the Solous landfill in Igando will not disrupt waste collection and processing services across the city.
The closure, set to begin in December 2024, is part of the state’s ambitious plan to convert the dump sites into renewable energy stations.
The transformation of these waste sites into hubs for energy generation is a key part of Lagos State’s broader environmental sustainability agenda, aimed at addressing the long-standing health and environmental concerns associated with the sites.
The 18-month decommissioning period will see LAWMA shift its focus to alternative methods of waste management while the renewable energy conversion is underway.
Muyiwa Gbadegesin, Managing Director of LAWMA, explained the state’s strategy during a stakeholders’ meeting held at the Civic Centre, Victoria Island, recently He assured Lagosians that waste management would continue seamlessly through the construction of transfer loading stations (TLS) at Olusosun and Solous.
These facilities will act as intermediary points, from where waste will be moved to newly planned Material Recovery Facilities (MRFs) in Ikorodu and Badagry for processing.
Gbadegesin emphasized that the state’s approach would not only maintain current waste services but also contribute to the recycling efforts. “The construction of TLS at both Olusosun and Solous will allow for efficient waste transport. Waste will be moved to the MRFs in Ikorodu and Badagry, where recyclable materials will be processed,” he said.
These MRFs are expected to play a central role in Lagos’s push toward waste reduction and sustainability, transforming much of the waste that would otherwise have gone to landfills into valuable recyclable materials.
The initiative aligns with the state’s push for the adoption of the two-bin waste segregation system, which encourages Lagos residents to separate their waste at the source, thus minimizing the amount sent to landfills.
While some residents initially raised concerns about potential disruption to waste services during the shutdown, LAWMA has reassured them that comprehensive planning is in place.
“Lagosians will not experience any interruption in waste management during this transition,” Gbadegesin said, stressing that the project will help position Lagos as a leader in sustainable waste management.
The shift toward renewable energy and improved waste processing reflects Lagos’s broader commitment to achieving its environmental goals, including reducing reliance on traditional landfills and promoting more sustainable, energy-efficient waste practices.
The city’s ambitious plan to convert waste into energy is expected to have long-term benefits for both the environment and the economy, as Lagos works toward a cleaner and more efficient waste management system.