Waste-to-wealth: LASG to partner Holland-based company

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9 years ago

Determined to give a fillip to its waste-to-wealth project in a bid to create more jobs, the Lagos State Government says it is collaborating with a Holland-based company to harness the waste.

Already, the state has begun gas production from waste dumps.

Mr Olumuyiwa Adejokun, the Executive Chairman, Lagos State Waste Management Authority (LAWMA), told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Monday in Lagos that the project would be a public-private initiative.

“It is a veritable option to adopt in recycling our waste which we generate daily in thousands of tons.

“Governor Akinwunmi Ambode’s administration has invited a company from Holland whose specialty is on converting waste to wealth to create jobs for both old and young.

“We are expecting them anytime form now to come and collaborate with us on the project,’’ said the LAWMA boss, who took over in 2016.

According to Adejokun, the state-owned enterprise is not to recycle waste, but to encourage recyclers as private initiatives.

“It is not for LAWMA to recycle waste, but to encourage recyclers; for example, we have WeCyclers owned by the Abiolas.’’

LAWMA was inaugurated following the industrialisation and urbanisation of Lagos with the resultant high volume of waste which became an intractable problem for local councils in the state to manage.

Lagos was branded the “dirtiest’’ capital in 1977 when Nigeria hosted “FESTAC ’77’’, and consequently in April 1977, the first waste management outfit in West Africa was inaugurated known as Lagos State Refuse Disposal Board (LSRDB) under Edict 9 of 1977, with Powell Duffen Pollution Control Consultants of Canada as managers.

In 1981, its name was changed to Lagos State Waste Disposal Board (LSWDB) because of the added responsibilities for industrial-commercial waste collection and disposal, drain clearing and disposal of derelict/scrapped vehicles.