By Lukman Olabiyi
Lagos State Government has reaffirmed its commitment to transforming the state’s waste management strategy from the traditional “collect and dump” model to a modern, sustainable circular economy approach.
Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Mr Tokunbo Wahab, made this announcement at the 2025 Ministerial Press Briefing held in Alausa, Ikeja.
He emphasized the state’s drive toward practical and lasting solutions in waste management that reduce the volume of waste reaching landfills.
Wahab revealed that Lagos generates over 13,000 metric tonnes of solid waste daily.
To tackle this, he said the government has signed multiple Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) aimed at waste-to-resource conversion, improved waste collection and recycling, and the establishment of a smelting plant to process electronic waste, positioning Lagos as a leader in e-waste recycling.
Highlighting recent partnerships, Wahab announced an MoU with the Dutch Harvest Waste Consortium to construct a 60–80MW Waste-to-Energy plant at the Epe landfill.
The facility will convert 2,500 tonnes of municipal, commercial, and industrial waste daily into clean energy using advanced technology.
Additionally, an MoU with Lafarge Africa/Geocycle will facilitate the treatment of non-recyclable combustible waste, converting it into industrial energy and minimizing landfill use.
“Our goal is to build a megacity that thrives on sustainable waste processing, modernized landfill systems, cleaner waterways, and improved sanitation infrastructure. As part of the state’s transition to a circular economy, Lagos has banned the sale and use of Styrofoam food packs, a significant contributor to flooding and blocked drains,” Wahab stated.
He disclosed that since enforcement began in early 2025, authorities have confiscated 123.95 metric tonnes of Styrofoam. Similarly, enforcement of the ban on single-use plastics (SUPs) is ongoing, alongside the promotion of sustainable alternatives and extended producer responsibility.
Adding that to maintain cleanliness across the city, the state government deployed 15,000 street sweepers daily and has intensified enforcement of environmental laws, including penalties for indiscriminate waste disposal.