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

The Lagos State Government plans to replace its aging landfills with recycling facilities and waste-to-energy plants to tackle its worsening waste management crisis. Managing Director of the Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA) Muyiwa Gbadegesin detailed these efforts during the agency's mid-year media briefing. Major challenges have been faced at the major dump sites, particularly during the rainy season, due to flooding of access roads and disposal platforms, and the limited capacity of some landfills.

To address these issues, LAWMA is implementing engineering interventions and developing alternative waste management facilities. The rehabilitation of Road E, a major access road, and the construction of two disposal platforms have improved waste truck access and reduced turnaround time. LAWMA is also constructing two major transfer loading stations and developing waste-to-energy plants, with the first plant in Badagry set to take three to five years to complete.

Material recovery facilities covering about 50 hectares each are being built in Ikorodu and Badagry, where waste will be sorted into organic waste, plastics, metals, and textiles. The agency has increased its waste collection capacity with 10 additional trucks and expects 150 more compactor trucks by the end of the year. LAWMA is also reforming the private sector waste collection sector, involving 438 operators across the state.

The government aims to move Lagos towards a circular economy through waste sorting at the source, reduced reliance on landfills, and the establishment of material recovery facilities, transfer stations, waste-to-energy plants, and biogas facilities.