LAWMA urges waste sorting as rainfall disrupts disposal operations in Lagos

MUYIWA GBADEGESIN
*Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of LAWMA*

By Adebola Isimijola, Lagos

The Lagos Waste Management Authority has urged residents to embrace waste reduction, sorting, and proper disposal practices as persistent rainfall continues to put pressure on waste disposal facilities across Lagos State.

Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of LAWMA, Muyiwa Gbadegesin, said heavy rainfall and difficult terrain conditions had negatively affected operations at several landfill and disposal sites across the state.

Gbadegesin disclosed that the development had impacted truck movement, turnaround time, and operational efficiency, thereby affecting waste evacuation activities by Private Sector Participant (PSP) operators and sanitation workers.

According to him, “Persistent rainfall and increased waste evacuation activities have placed considerable strain on disposal infrastructure, affecting truck movement, turnaround time, and operational efficiency at some landfill and disposal locations across the state.”

He explained that LAWMA was already engaging stakeholders and implementing measures to improve accessibility and stabilise disposal operations during the rainy season.

The LAWMA boss appealed to residents to support ongoing interventions by reducing waste generation, properly bagging their waste, and adopting sorting practices that encourage recycling and resource recovery.

He noted that separating recyclable and organic waste at source would reduce pressure on disposal facilities while supporting the state’s transition to a circular economy and sustainable waste management system.

Gbadegesin assured residents that the authority remained committed to maintaining environmental sanitation through operational reforms, infrastructure upgrades, and strategic collaboration with PSP operators.

He also commended sanitation workers, PSP operators, and drivers for their resilience and dedication to service delivery despite the difficult weather conditions.

LAWMA further appealed for public understanding and cooperation, assuring residents that efforts were ongoing to sustain effective waste evacuation operations and cleaner communities across Lagos State.