The Managing Director of the Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA), Dr Muyiwa Gbadegesin, has urged Lagos residents to recognise waste as a valuable economic resource.
Gbadegesin said in a statement signed by Mrs Folashade Kadiri, Director, Public Affairs, LAWMA, on Wednesday in Lagos.
He emphasised the importance of embracing recycling and the circular economy as key strategies for sustainable waste management in the state.
“Waste is inevitable — it’s a byproduct of human activity. But what people call waste is actually not waste, but money. We must move towards a circular economy where we reduce, reuse, and recycle,” Gbadegesin said.
He noted LAWMA’s continued advocacy for waste sorting at source, urging every household to use separate bins for general waste and recyclables like paper, PET bottles, cans, and textiles.
He said the materials could be exchanged for money or other incentives through the support of recycling companies.
Gbadegesin highlighted the vital role of the private sector in advancing sustainable waste practices.
“The private sector is already active in waste collection. Now, we want them to participate in the recycling business as well,” he added.
He said that following the planned decommissioning of the Olusosun and Solous landfills, LAWMA would develop Transfer Loading Stations (TLS) and Material Recovery Facilities (MRFs) at those locations, maximising value extraction from waste.
He added that LAWMA was working with emerging waste-tech companies such as GreenDeall, to build a recycling plant at Abule-Egba to convert specific types of plastic waste into oil for industrial use.
He said the agency would launch a “deal book” later in the year, showcasing investment opportunities within the waste management sector, alongside a digital base map that would allow users to explore areas of interest through LAWMA website.
Gbadegesin reiterated LAWMA’s commitment to youth development through its Academy, which educates students on waste management practices and offers internship programs for undergraduates.
He said that two pilot modern recycling hubs would soon be established in schools in Yaba to serve as learning centres for students across Lagos Mainland.
He added that the hubs would feature sorting systems for various waste fractions — metal, organic, paper — all managed by the students themselves.
“The most pressing challenge in waste management remains human behaviour. Infrastructure alone is not enough. We must change the public mindset. That’s why we are investing in the next generation,” he said.
