The Lagos State government has strengthened its commitment to cutting-edge waste conversion by signing three separate Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) with distinguished companies.
Addressing investors and delegates at the 11th Lagos International Climate Change Summit held at the Continental Hotel, Victoria Island, the Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Mr Tokunbo Wahab, emphasized that the government is determined to shift from a linear waste management system, “pick and dump,” to a more sustainable waste-to-wealth model.
He observed that the new MoUs constitute a significant breakthrough in mitigating waste volumes in landfills.
Wahab clarified that HAK Waste Limited proposed introducing a circular beverage container recycling and recovery system via a deposit refund mechanism rooted in the Extended Producer’s Responsibility Mechanism (EPRM).
He additionally noted that the proposal reflects investors’ confidence in the state’s EPRM policy on waste reduction, incorporating the establishment of a packaging circularity ecosystem.
As stated by Wahab, an additional agreement involves the establishment of a cutting-edge tyre collection and recycling facility for end-of-life tyres in Lagos.
The proposal by Haggai Logistics Limited entails the construction of a pioneering tyre recycling plant to process end-of-life tyres through a fully automated waste tyre recycling factory and environmentally sound recycling technologies.
Furthermore, Wahab mentioned that the third MoU, signed with Mondo 4 Africa, aims to convert non-recyclable plastic waste into sustainable fuel and other valuable resources using eco-friendly technology.
He reconfirmed the state’s pledge to continuous public awareness initiatives focused on waste sorting at the source, highlighting that residents must commence viewing waste as a resource rather than refuse.
“We are working to transform the prevailing mindset that views waste as waste, instead recognizing its potential as a resource. We are also seeking to shift people’s mindsets, transitioning away from long-standing practices that have persisted for decades,” he commented.
Wahab pointed out that the government is tackling key financial and environmental challenges simultaneously, especially in relation to Lagos’s vulnerability as a coastal state.
Speaking on the new MoUs, the Managing Director of the Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA), Dr Muyiwa Gbadegesin, stated that the initiative forms part of the agency’s efforts to enhance the state’s environmental sustainability.
He stressed that neither the state government nor LAWMA alone can manage the large volume of solid waste generated daily, hence the need for private sector collaboration to transform waste into wealth.
During the event, the company executives expressed their gratitude and pledged to support Lagos State in achieving its waste-to-wealth objectives.
Also present at the event were the Special Adviser on Environment, Mr Olakunle Rotimi-Akodu;
Permanent Secretary, Office of Environmental Services, Dr Omobolaji Gaji; Permanent Secretary, Office of Drainage Services, Mr Mahamood Adegbite; and LAWMA’s Executive Director (Finance), Mr Kunle Adebiyi, among others.
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