LASG Urges Residents To Key Into Waste To Wealth Initiative

Hon. Commissioner Ministry Of Environment and Water Resources

The Lagos State Government has called on all residents to embrace its Waste-to-Wealth Initiative as part of efforts to promote a circular economy and ensure a cleaner, more sustainable environment. Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Mr. Tokunbo Wahab, made the call during an appearance on Arise Television, where he emphasised the government’s determination to instil a waste management culture across the state. He explained that the initiative aims to reduce the volume of waste reaching landfills through recycling, reuse, and waste conversion into valuable resources.

Wahab highlighted that the state’s Trash for Cash initiative, which takes place every Thursday, allows residents to exchange recyclable waste for cash or have waste collected directly from their homes. He said plans are underway to scale up the programme by creating permanent collection points across the state, encouraging residents to see waste as a source of income rather than a nuisance. According to him, once people begin earning from waste, illegal dumping on roads, canals, and open spaces will drastically reduce.

He explained that Lagos is transitioning from a linear waste system where waste is simply collected and dumped to a circular waste model, where waste becomes a resource that can be converted into energy and other useful materials. In line with this, the government has signed a concession agreement with Zoom Lion to convert 4,000 tons of daily waste into compost fertiliser and recyclable materials, ensuring that less than five per cent of waste ends up in landfills. The state has also begun decommissioning outdated landfill sites, including Olososun in Ikeja and Soluos 3 in Igando, which have exceeded their lifespan.

The Commissioner also urged residents to adopt waste separation practices from their homes, stressing that sorting waste at the source is crucial to the success of the initiative. He reiterated that the ban on cart pushers, styrofoam, and single-use plastics (SUPs) remains in place, noting that their elimination has already led to a significant reduction in drainage blockage and flash floods across Lagos. Wahab pointed out that the improved environmental conditions made it possible for the state to host the E1 Speed Boat Race, underscoring the government’s commitment to a cleaner and flood-free Lagos.

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Wahab concluded by appealing to Lagosians to support the state’s drive toward a cleaner and more resilient megacity, warning against illegal waste disposal, building on drainage channels, and encroaching on wetlands. He stated that environmental laws apply to everyone equally, adding that even acts of goodwill, such as public cooking for the needy, must be carried out within legal boundaries. “The government is building a megacity that is environmentally-friendly, sustainable, and resilient. Every resident must play their part by managing waste responsibly to make Lagos cleaner, safer, and healthier for all,” he said.