Lagos to replace ageing landfills with recycling, waste-to-energy plants

Lagos is planning to replace its aging landfills with recycling facilities and waste-to-energy plants to tackle its worsening waste management crisis. The Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA) Managing Director, Muyiwa Gbadegesin, revealed this during a mid-year media briefing. The initiative aims to address challenges faced by major dumpsites, especially during the rainy season, which have seen waterlogging, road flooding, and limited landfill capacity.

Gbadegesin noted that despite rehabilitation efforts, such as road repairs and construction of disposal platforms, the capacity of the affected sites has reached its limit. To tackle this, LAWMA is developing transfer loading stations for waste collection and two major waste-to-energy plants, including one in Badagry, which are projected to be operational within three to five years.

Additionally, material recovery facilities with 50 hectares each will be set up in Ikorodu and Badagry to process and sort waste. LAWMA is also reforming the private waste collection sector, involving 438 operators across Lagos, and strengthening enforcement against illegal dumping, with all 259 offenders convicted since January.

The ultimate goal is to transition Lagos from a linear waste management system to a circular economy.