Lagos Generates 10,000 Tonnes Of Waste Daily – Agency

The Lagos State Waste Management Authority (LAWMA) says that the state generates 10,000 tonnes of waste daily.

The Managing Director, of the agency, Mr. Ola Oresanya, disclosed this in an interview with newsmen in Lagos on Thursday.

Oresanya said given the cosmopolitan nature of the state, it was expected that large volumes of waste would be generated regularly. The managing director also identified indiscriminate dumping of refuse as a major challenge for the authority in 2012. ‘

‘In Lagos, we generate a daily average of about 10,000 metric tonnes of waste.

“And you know what 1,000 tonnes looks like; 1,000 tonnes will fill 100 trailers. We generate about 10,000 tonnes in Lagos on daily basis. “The core challenge here is just the habit of the people. “Lagosians still have this bad habit of throwing wastes from their cars and dumping wastes in unauthorised areas.

“Though the habit is reducing but it’s a major one and we are addressing it.’’

On the policy of commercial drivers having waste bins in their vehicles, Oresanya said that had not improved hygiene in the state.

“Waste bin in vehicle: Well, I don’t see any relevance between that and public hygiene. “To me, I don’t see any relevance with that. If you have a waste bin in the bus and I’m seating at the back, would I want to throw waste over the head of other passengers into the bin?

“What we tell the transport workers is to make sure that when they get to their garages, they should clear their vehicles of dirt and we have bins in garages where they can put these things and if you have a car. “You can put waste on your carpet but once you get to where you are going, you clean it up.’’

Oresanya said LAWMA planned to roll out 30,000 new bins to enhance evacuation of waste in the state.