Lagos moves to triple waste recycling rate by 2030
By Sodiq Adelakun
The Lagos State Government has unveiled a plan to increase its waste recycling rate from the current 8–10 percent to between 25 and 30 percent within the next five years, as part of efforts to build a sustainable and circular economy.
The Managing Director of the Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA), Dr. Olumuyiwa Gbadegesin, disclosed this in Lagos at the 2025 Annual Lecture and Awards of the Property and Environment Writers Association of Nigeria (PEWAN).
Delivering the keynote address, Gbadegesin stressed that modern waste management goes beyond disposal and is now central to economic value creation and environmental sustainability. He said, “Our current recycling rate is between eight to ten percent, and we are pushing to achieve 25 to 30 percent over the next five years.”
According to him, the state’s strategy includes developing an integrated Transfer Loading Station (TLS) and Materials Recovery Facility (MRF) network, backed by performance-based contracts to guarantee waste diversion and throughput.
He explained that the system would support micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) engaged in waste collection, sorting, organics processing, and logistics, thereby driving entrepreneurship and green jobs.
Gbadegesin noted that a modern waste system is essentially a materials economy, turning disposal costs into recoverable value.
He added that Africa’s circular economy potential represents over $7.6 billion annually in recoverable resources not currently harnessed.
“The State’s concessionary pathway re-routes high-volume waste streams through TLS-MRF, creating predictable feedstock for recovery and attracting private investment,” he said.
Chairman of the event and former Lagos Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Mr. Toyin Ayinde, called for a change in societal attitudes towards resource utilisation.
He pointed out that while Nigeria’s recycling rate stands at about nine percent, developed nations average 29 percent. “We must see waste as a resource. The more value we create, the less waste we generate,” Ayinde said.
Also speaking, the General Manager of the Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency (LASEPA), Mr. Babatunde Ajayi, highlighted the agency’s focus on monitoring air quality, vehicle emissions, and chemical handling.
He explained that proper enforcement and advocacy have contributed to reducing environmental challenges in Lagos.
“Our air quality monitoring is currently at about 75 percent, and we are confident of achieving 100 percent before the end of the year. This monitoring has informed policies, data, and the strength of our advocacy,” Ajayi said.