LAWMA Proposes Ban On Textile Waste Disposal At Landfills
The Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA) has announced an impending ban on textile waste disposal at landfills across Lagos, highlighting the economic and environmental potential of recycling textile materials. Dr. Muyiwa Gbadegesin, Managing Director/CEO of LAWMA, disclosed this development at the Lagos Fashion Week event, held at the Federal Palace Hotel, Victoria Island, organized by Style House Files in collaboration with the Circular Business Platform and the Lagos State Office of Climate Change and Circular Economy.
Addressing the theme “Fostering a Sustainable Fashion Ecosystem” as part of the Nigeria-Netherlands Exchange Programme for circular fashion, Gbadegesin emphasized that textile waste makes up about eight percent of Lagos’ daily 13,000 metric tonnes of waste. He stressed that sustainable solutions like recycling, upcycling and responsible consumption are essential to managing the environmental impacts of textile waste and creating economic opportunities.
“In response to the significant environmental toll of textile waste in our landfills, we are instituting a ban on textile waste disposal, effective in three months,” stated Gbadegesin. “Through a new partnership with Tejuosho Market in Yaba, textile waste will be collected and transferred to recycling companies. At LAWMA, we lead by example, as shown in our Academy, where students learn upcycling and turn textile waste into creative products.”
In his opening address, Deputy Consul General of the Netherlands, Peter Keulers, lauded LAWMA and Lagos state for their proactive environmental efforts.
In a separate event, at Betaglass Plc’s Fresh Perspectives Event 2024, Dr. Gbadegesin spoke on the role of public-private partnerships in driving environmental innovation. At a panel titled “Public-Private Partnerships for Environmental Solutions,” he noted that collaborations have enabled LAWMA to better manage Lagos’ waste for over 22 million residents. He highlighted LAWMA’s partnerships with PSP operators, cleaning companies and street sweepers, whom he called the “unsung heroes” of Lagos’ waste management efforts.
LAWMA’s partnerships also extend to Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiatives, with companies donating PPE and uniforms for street sweepers. Gbadegesin highlighted further partnerships, including a new waste-to-energy plant in Epe and a collaboration with Ghana’s Zoomlion to decommission the Olusosun dumpsite.
Betaglass CEO Alexandra Gendis stressed the need to harness the potential of Nigerian youth to drive economic growth, while other attendees included Wale Adebiyi, Managing Director of Wecyclers, Dr. Babatunde Ajayi, General Manager of the Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency (LASEPA), and Sharin Sweet, Head of Betaglass Plc.
