Lagos signs MoU with Lafarge on zero waste at landfill sites

The Lagos State government on Monday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Lafarge Africa Plc for the collection of non-recyclable combustible waste from landfill sites and all locations to Lafarge Africa’s Ewekoro plant in Ogun State.

The ceremony held at the Lagos State Ministry for the Environment and Water Resources conference hall in Alausa, Ikeja, aimed at achieving zero waste at landfill sites across the state.

The commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, who signed on behalf of the Lagos State government, described the initiative as a welcome development towards tackling the waste challenges in the state.

Noting that Lagos generates between 13,000 and 15,000 tons of waste a day, he reiterated the state government’s determination to continually pay special attention to waste conversion in the state.

According to him, the collaboration between Lagos State and Lafarge Africa will help achieve the ultimate objective of a zero waste situation and reduce the quantum of the quantity of waste that ends up at landfill sites across the state.

He said: “It’s a symbiotic relationship, We have the waste, you have the use for it and waste is not waste until it is tagged as waste; there is always value in it globally; this will go a long way to help us reduce waste generated in Lagos State and also go to the landfills, we thank Lafarge and we are ready to put everything in it to support the process.

The Commissioner recalled that the Lagos government in the recent past had also signed MoU to help decommission existing landfills, MoU to convert waste to energy, MOU with a Dutch company to take off electronic waste adding that these processes are embarked upon deliberately and methodically.

He emphasised that everyone has a duty to the earth to make it better and save the earth from going under saying that a sustainable path to address it is the only way out.

“We are addressing the issues of waste frontally at the states; Waste sorting is a culture and it is a culture that you must imbibe and build over time; separation of waste is here to stay. plastics must be in this particular bin, paper must be in a different bin. All these are part of the culture that we must build and we are determined to do it,” he said.

In his remarks, the Chief Executive Officer of Lafarge, Mr. Lolu Alade-Akinyemi explained that with the signing of the MoU, Lafarge Africa intends to collect waste from companies and Lagos State dumpsites and divert them to the Ewekoro Plant as an alternative fuel for production adding that managing waste effectively was critical to environmental stewardship, community wellbeing and long term economic development.

He noted that the partnership will strengthen Lafarge Africa’s leadership in sustainable construction and climate action and provide both parties with an opportunity to make meaningful contributions to sustainable waste management in Nigeria.

He further revealed that the MoU’s benefits are wide-ranging, including the availability of reliable alternative fuel sources, cost efficiency, regulatory compliance, and alignment with ESG goals.

“We have successfully deployed waste-to-energy solutions globally, and today, we are extending that expertise to Lagos. The waste sourced through this partnership will be utilised as an alternative fuel in our cement kilns, replacing fossil fuels, reducing our carbon footprint, and contributing to Nigeria’s decarbonisation journey,” he said.

The Managing Director, LAWMA, Dr. Muyiwa Gbedegesin, in his remarks, noted that the partnership will address a lot of waste issues.

He stressed that the state will surely tell a remarkable story not just for the African continent, but for the entire world because of what the partnership aims to achieve which will be to the benefit of all.

Also, Head of Geocycle, Lafarge Africa Plc, Daniel Adedokun, noted that the idea was mooted in 2014, stressing that the partnership will strengthen Lafarge Africa’s leadership in sustainable construction and climate action.

“Beyond the immediate advantages to Lagos State and Lafarge Africa, the broader environmental impact of this initiative is profound. By mitigating methane emissions from decomposing waste and reducing CO₂ emissions from traditional cement production,” he added