The Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA) says it is upgrading waste management facilities in the state by introducing 100 compressed natural gas (CNG) compactors.

LAWMA managing director Muyiwa Gbadegesin said in an interview on Monday in Lagos that the agency would introduce CNG compactors, which are environmentally friendly and cheaper to operate.

“This year, we will be bringing 100 compactors; next year, we will be doubling that. Over the next five years, our vision is to completely upgrade the waste collection fleet in Lagos,” he said.

“I should mention that these trucks could also use biogas to be produced from organic wastes, both liquid and solid.”

Mr Gbadegesin said LAWMA partnered with the Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (LAMATA) to complete a feasibility study on waste management. He said the feasibility study was in partnership with the Swedish government.

Mr Gbadegesin said the feasibility study showed that most of the water and solid organic wastes could be used to produce biogas for LAWMA and LAMATA fleets.

He said LAMATA would bring in about 2,000 CNG/biogas-powered fleets from next quarter.

“We are bringing these things and making them available to the private sector partnership (PSP) operators.

“As you are aware, the PSP operators are the major partners of LAWMA; we are a regulating agency; we rely on them for the job of collecting waste from households,” Mr Gbadegesin said.

He said LAWMA would revive the existing transfer loading stations and construct new ones in partnership with Zoomlion Nigeria.

Mr Gbadegesin explained that Zoomlion was investing its money in constructing new transfer loading stations and material recovery facilities.

He added that 95 per cent of the things thrown away could be transformed into wealth, adding, “This is something that will give a lot of people employment and wealth.”

(NAN)