LAWMA, stakeholders don join head to plan how Lagos go clean well-well

Lagos State Waste Management Authority (LAWMA), wey join body with Proganics Limited for Lagos this weekend, don unveil big plan for organic and food waste to the lowest level. Dis move go still help boost recycling work and support the state climate change goal. As dem announce the plan for one-day stakeholders’ forum wey carry the theme “Feeding the Future: Sustainable Organic and Food Waste Solutions for a Cleaner Lagos,” LAWMA Managing Director/CEO, Mr. Olumuyiwa Gbedegesin, talk say the meeting dey important because almost half of the 13,000 tonnes of waste wey Lagos dey produce everyday na organic waste, wey mean say about 6,500 tonnes dey cause big problem for environment. Gbadegesin talk say to separate organic waste from others na very important step to achieve the Lagos of our dream wey go dey clean. Him talk say: “About 50% of our waste for Lagos na organic. That na like 6,500 tonnes everyday. If we just dey carry am go dump for landfill, na plenty greenhouse gas go dey come out, especially methane gas wey dey cause global warming and climate wahala.” “Na urgent matter we suppose tackle sharp-sharp. Waste alone dey contribute about 20% to the global heat wey everybody dey feel now. That na why this administration policy na to reduce organic waste and stop too much methane.” “Our Governor don already promise for COP28 wey happen for Dubai say we go cut down methane, and now na action time. We dey bring stakeholders like hotels, eateries, event centres and food manufacturers onboard. These na people wey dey produce plenty organic waste.”

“We go dey collect the organic waste separate. These businesses go dey sort am on their own. After sorting, we go carry am go organic waste processing facility. Proganics, one of our partners, get plant wey fit process 200 tonnes of organic waste per day.” He add say the plant small but e go serve well as alternative to manage organic waste especially from hospitality sector. The technology dem dey use na Black Soldier Fly Technology, wey use soldier fly to chop the organic material, turn am to animal feed and biofertilizer. Gbadegesin talk say the technology don already dey in use for countries like Kenya and Rwanda, and now e don reach Nigeria. Another innovation wey LAWMA introduce na smart bins. Him explain say: “We get green smart bins for organic and food waste. These bins get RFID tags and we go install IoT devices wey go show when bin don full. This one go help schedule when dem go carry the bin go plant.” On top how dem dey charge businesses, the LAWMA boss talk say: “We dey charge businesses based on the volume of waste dem dey generate. So, if you reduce your waste by sorting organic waste go another facility, your bill go reduce. That na immediate benefit.” “We still dey consider other incentives like small rebate for people wey dey separate food waste for house. We never finalise am but we wan make am attractive to people, because e go benefit everybody. For now, we dey struggle to collect only 45% of waste across Lagos. So any help to reduce waste for environment na better thing.”

Mr. Augustine Ogee, Head of Corporate Strategy for Proganics Limited, praise the initiative. He talk say Nigeria dey generate thousands of tonnes of organic waste yearly, and inside this waste dey plenty opportunity. Him talk say: “Our R&D don show say we fit turn the organic waste to products wey go help health sector, agriculture and environment. Na why we partner with LAWMA because dem be the biggest waste agency for Nigeria. With the work dem don do and other partnerships, we go fit process waste faster and enjoy the full benefit across different sectors.” “Lagos dey face plenty issues like sustainability, greenhouse gas, landfill problems and health problems from bad waste management. If we dey kind to our environment, sort our waste well and use the right collectors, na better sustainable solution we dey build for long term.” Stakeholders from Ministries of Environment & Water Resources, Agriculture, Energy & Mineral Resources, plus hotels, event centres and others still hail the initiative and promise support.