Lagos partners with British firm to launch advanced plastic recycling initiative
By Sodiq Adelakun
The Lagos State Government has taken a significant step towards addressing the growing challenge of plastic waste by signing a Letter of Intent (LoI) with British companies GreenDeal Chemicals and Recycling and Greenback Recycling Technologies Ltd.
This collaboration is focused on advanced recycling technologies that convert plastic waste into energy, with the Abule Egba landfill designated as the project’s operational hub.
During a press briefing on Sunday, the Commissioner for Environment and Water Resources, Mr. Tokunbo Wahab, emphasised the initiative’s potential impact on environmental sustainability.
“This project is part of our comprehensive efforts to reduce plastic waste in Lagos State and facilitate its conversion into valuable resources.
“We are committed to working collaboratively with reputable organizations to ensure that we maximize the benefits of this initiative,” he stated.
Wahab further explained that the agreement would allow access to the Abule Egba landfill for the collection of flexible plastic waste, which is critical for the advanced chemical recycling process.
“The project will focus on the collection of all flexible plastic waste arriving at the Abule Egba landfill site, which will be recycled to generate energy,” he noted.
The pilot project is marked to process 32 metric tonnes of flexible plastic waste daily, with the initial setup comprising four chemical recycling modules projected to handle approximately 11,680 metric tonnes of plastic waste annually.
“The Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA) will ensure that adequate waste deliveries serve as feedstock for the chemical recycling units installed at the site,” Wahab added.
He emphasised the significance of the pilot, stating, “Following the success of this project, we will deploy additional modules to scale up the volume of processed plastic waste.”
Chief Executive Officer of GreenDeal Chemicals and Recycling, Dr. Akintayo Adisa, expressed enthusiasm for the collaboration.
“GreenDeal is an initiative that sets out to reduce waste, increase recycling, and promote sustainable practices.
“We are committed to working closely with the Lagos State Government to actualize the circular economy plan of the state,” he said.
Adisa highlighted the transformative potential of the project, asserting, “This partnership will not only help address the plastic waste crisis but also provide a sustainable energy source for the state.”
The LoI signing was attended by key officials, including the Permanent Secretary for the Office of Environmental Services, Dr. Omobolaji Gaji, and the Managing Director of LAWMA, Dr. Muyiwa Gbadegesin, among others.
Gaji remarked, “This initiative is a significant milestone in our efforts to promote environmental sustainability in Lagos.”
