The Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA) is accelerating efforts to transform Lagos into a model circular economy by reducing reliance on dumpsites and expanding resource recovery, recycling, and modern waste processing systems.
The Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of LAWMA, Dr. Muyiwa Gbadegesin, disclosed this during an appearance on the weekend edition of Talk Time on Traffic Radio, where he outlined the Authority’s long-term strategy for building a more resilient and sustainable waste management system.
According to him, LAWMA recognises that dumpsites were never intended to serve as permanent waste disposal solutions, particularly in a rapidly growing megacity such as Lagos. He explained that every landfill has a limited lifespan, making it essential to reduce the volume of waste disposed of while investing in innovative alternatives that recover value from waste.
Dr. Gbadegesin said the Authority is strategically shifting from a waste disposal model to a resource management approach by ensuring that a greater percentage of municipal waste is recycled, composted, or processed before reaching landfill facilities.
To achieve this, LAWMA is expanding investments in Material Recovery Facilities (MRFs), Transfer Loading Stations (TLSs), biodigesters, composting plants, and other waste processing infrastructure designed to increase resource recovery and minimise the amount of waste requiring final disposal.
He noted that every tonne of waste diverted from dumpsites extends the lifespan of existing disposal facilities while creating opportunities for job creation, industrial growth, and environmental sustainability.
The LAWMA boss also highlighted the Authority’s intensified waste sorting and recycling initiatives, aimed at ensuring recyclable and organic waste are separated at source and returned to productive use instead of being discarded as mixed waste.
He stressed that infrastructure alone cannot deliver sustainable waste management, emphasising that public awareness, environmental education, and behavioural change are equally critical to achieving lasting success.
Dr. Gbadegesin revealed that the LAWMA Academy has become the Authority’s flagship platform for environmental education, equipping residents, schools, markets, estates, institutions, and community groups with the knowledge and practical skills needed to adopt responsible waste management practices.
He added that the Academy is fostering partnerships with academic institutions, development organisations, professional bodies, and private sector stakeholders to encourage research, innovation, and practical solutions that support the growth of a circular economy in Lagos.
Reiterating the Authority’s vision, Dr. Gbadegesin said the most sustainable waste is the waste that never reaches a dumpsite, noting that every item recovered through recycling, composting, or other resource recovery initiatives reduces pressure on landfill facilities while contributing to a cleaner and healthier environment.
He urged residents to embrace waste sorting at source, patronise only assigned Private Sector Participants (PSPs), and actively participate in recycling initiatives, stressing that public cooperation remains essential to achieving a sustainable waste management system.
Dr. Gbadegesin reaffirmed LAWMA’s commitment to preparing Lagos for a future where waste is increasingly viewed as a valuable resource, with dumpsites serving only as facilities of last resort within an integrated, environmentally responsible, and sustainable waste management framework.
