Lagos to shut down Olusosun, Solous dumpsites for waste-to-energy project
The Lagos State government has announced plans to permanently close the Olusosun and Solous dumpsites as part of a broader initiative to convert solid waste into renewable energy. The Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA) disclosed that the shutdown is scheduled to begin in December 2024 and will take 18 months to complete.
Dr. Muyiwa Gbadegesin, Managing Director and CEO of LAWMA, made the announcement during a One-Day Stakeholders’ Forum on Sustainable Waste Management held at the Civic Centre, Victoria Island, Lagos. He highlighted that this initiative aligns with Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s environmental agenda, aimed at addressing the environmental and health hazards posed by the existing landfill sites.
“The plan is to cover the Olusosun and Solous dumpsites with geotextiles and install solar panels, transforming them into renewable energy stations,” Gbadegesin said. He added that the government had signed a memorandum of understanding with Ghanaian waste management company ZoomLion to develop material recovery facilities (MRFs) in Ikorodu and Badagry.
Once the dumpsites are covered, transfer loading stations will be constructed at both locations, allowing waste to be transported in trailers to the MRFs. At these facilities, waste will be sorted and processed into various materials such as metals and plastics. “We no longer want waste on the streets of Lagos, and we are moving away from dumpsites to material recovery facilities,” Gbadegesin stated.
The project, which seeks to create a cleaner and more sustainable Lagos, also aims to boost the state’s recycling efforts. Gbadegesin revealed that Lagos currently recycles only 8% of its recyclable materials but hopes to increase this figure to over 20% within the next three years.
The forum also promoted the state’s “Adopt a Bin” initiative, urging stakeholders to support the government’s environmental goals by embracing waste segregation at the household and business levels. The newly introduced two-bin system requires residents to separate their waste into organic/general waste and dry recyclables like plastics and paper.
LAWMA’s Executive Director, Mr. Kunle Adebiyi, emphasized the growing challenge of managing solid waste in rapidly urbanizing cities like Lagos. He noted that the state’s waste-to-energy project is a critical step in tackling the pressures of urbanization, industrialization, and population growth.
