LAWMA, partner launch organic waste plan to cut emissions

The Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA) has unveiled a new organic waste management initiative aimed at cutting methane emissions, boosting recycling, and supporting the state’s climate action goals.

The initiative, launched in collaboration with Proganics Limited, was announced at a stakeholder forum on Friday in Lagos.

It targets the growing challenge of organic waste across the state.

Managing Director/CEO of LAWMA, Dr Muyiwa Gbadegesin, said nearly half of the 13,000 tonnes of waste generated daily in Lagos was organic, roughly 6,500 tonnes, which posed a serious environmental risk.

“Sorting organic waste at source is critical to achieving the clean Lagos of our dreams.

“When sent to landfills, this waste generates methane, a greenhouse gas more harmful than CO₂,” he said.

He noted that the initiative was a practical response to the governor’s COP28 pledge to reduce methane emissions and advance Lagos’s role in the global fight against climate change.

Gbadegesin said LAWMA’s partner, Proganics Limited, had established a 200-tonne daily capacity organic waste facility, using Black Soldier Fly (BSF) technology to convert food waste into animal feed and bio-fertilisers.

He added that LAWMA was also deploying smart waste solutions, including RFID-tagged green bins and IoT sensors, to monitor and evacuate organic waste from key locations like restaurants and event centres.

“This innovation will improve operational efficiency, reduce pests and odours, and help businesses lower their waste bills.

“There may also be financial rebates for organisations that comply with the sorting policy,” he said.

Mr Augustine Ogee, Head of Corporate Strategy at Proganics Limited, highlighted the economic potential of the partnership, calling it a step towards sustainable waste management and circular economic opportunities.

“This is more than waste collection, it’s about building value chains that support jobs, food security, and environmental protection.

“It’s a scalable model for cities across Nigeria,” Ogee noted.

Dr Michael Bankole, Head of the Climate Change Department at the Lagos State Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources, said the project reflected the state’s broader climate vision.

“A clean city boosts public health, attracts investment, and improves quality of life.

“Organic waste is a resource, not a liability, which can drive recycling, energy generation, and food production,” he said.

He added that Lagos was working towards a systemic shift from landfilling to sustainable resource recovery, reinforcing that “waste is not wasted” in the emerging circular economy model.

In her goodwill message, Mrs Chikezie Iroegbu, National Chairperson of the Property and Environmental Writers Association of Nigeria, commended LAWMA for innovations in Lagos’s waste management system.

She assured the support of the media in raising awareness and advocating for cleaner, healthier, and more sustainable urban environments across the state.

Our correspondent reports that the forum, attended by stakeholders in hospitality, food and beverage industries, and academia, was the first in a series of engagements to be held across Lagos.