Waste Is Wealth, Stop Throwing Money Away – LAWMA Boss | Blissful Affairs Online
…Lagosians Advised to Adopt Recycling Culture for a Sustainable Future
The Managing Director/CEO of the Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA), Dr. Muyiwa Gbadegesin, has called on residents of Lagos to stop viewing waste as mere refuse and start seeing it as an economic opportunity.
Speaking at his office in Ijora-Olopa during an interactive session with journalists, Dr. Gbadegesin emphasized that what many discard daily holds significant financial value in the recycling market.
“Waste is inevitable — it’s a natural byproduct of human activity. But the era of simply throwing it away is over. We must transition to a circular economy where we reduce, reuse, and recycle,” he said. “In fact, we envision a Lagos where at least 90% of generated waste is recycled.”
The LAWMA boss highlighted the agency’s ongoing campaign encouraging every household to own separate bins for general waste and recyclables such as paper, plastic bottles, cans, and textiles — materials that can fetch money from recycling firms.
He also stressed the importance of private sector participation, urging waste collectors and entrepreneurs to explore the lucrative recycling industry. “It’s more sustainable when the government provides the framework, and the private sector drives the engine of growth,” he noted.
Dr. Gbadegesin’s message was clear: waste isn’t rubbish, it’s untapped wealth — and Lagosians must wake up to the economic promise of recycling.
In a media chat at his Ijora-Olopa office, Dr. Gbadegesin disclosed that the agency would soon decommission the city’s major landfills at Olusosun and Solous. In their place, Transfer Loading Stations (TLS) and advanced Materials Recovery Facilities (MRFs) would be established to process recyclables and extract maximum value from waste.
“The vision is simple — reduce waste, manage it sustainably, and unlock its hidden economic value,” he stated.
He also revealed LAWMA’s growing partnerships beyond big corporations, highlighting a collaboration with start-up GreenDeall, which plans to convert a former dumpsite in Abule-Egba into a recycling plant that processes certain plastics into oil for heavy industries.
As part of efforts to deepen private sector investment, Dr. Gbadegesin announced that a comprehensive “deal book” detailing business opportunities in the waste management sector would be launched later this year. A digital base map of waste management assets and opportunities will also be made available on the LAWMA website for investors and entrepreneurs.
On environmental education, he emphasized LAWMA’s commitment to grooming the next generation of waste management advocates through its LAWMA Academy. The academy’s dedicated team visits schools weekly, complemented by a monthly internship programme for undergraduates and graduates keen on mastering modern waste management practices.
“We’re not just cleaning up Lagos; we’re raising a generation that sees waste as wealth,” he remarked. “Our alumni will return to their communities as ambassadors of sustainable waste practices.”
In a major push to involve schools, Mr. Gbadegesin announced the distribution of 2,000 recycling bins across primary schools and the creation of two state-of-the-art recycling hubs in Yaba. These hubs, managed by students, will serve as learning centers and practical waste sorting stations for metals, paper, organics, and plastics.
“The goal is to create model schools where recycling is not theory but daily practice. If we get it right now, these young Lagosians will grow up with a mindset that waste has value,” he affirmed.
The LAWMA boss identified human behavior as the toughest challenge in waste management but expressed optimism that investing in youth education and awareness would change attitudes over time, creating a cleaner, more sustainable Lagos.
