LAWMA: Why we are distributing 40,000  bins to households, firms

The Managing Director of the Lagos State Waste Management Authority, Mr. Ibrahim Odumboni, yesterday said thatis  distributing 40,000 standard bins of the Adopt-A-Bin Program to promote effective waste management in the state, with emphasis on waste sorting right at the point of generation.

Odubomi, who described the launch of the program as significant in the history of waste management in Lagos State, said that the programme  strategically falls in line with the promise made by Mr. Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, to restore the beauty and aesthetics of the environment, when he assumed office. 
Odubomi said: ” The state government, through Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA) has over the years, stepped up efforts at ensuring a clean and healthy environment is maintained, by introducing pragmatic initiatives, to meet the waste management needs of residents across the city-scape. 
“You would also recall that in recent times, the administration has embarked on providing needed machinery for LAWMA, to be able carry out its statutory duties, such as the 102 waste collection trucks and 100 dino bins that were commissioned last year, to support our waste evacuation efforts. This is with the overall aim, of making the city cleaner and livable for residents and visitors. 
“It is without any doubt, that today’s launch of the Adopt-a-Bin Program, would move us closer to our vision of establishing an environment-friendly state, through best waste management practices. This, indeed, is a move in the right direction. 
To effectively execute the project, he said the agency would be putting an initial 40,000 standard bins to households and commercial entities. He added that the 240-litre bins, in green and blue colours, would be used for general waste and for recyclable items,adding that they are smart and equipped with intelligent devices, that enable tracking and identification.
Among the several benefits of the standard bins are: safe containerization of waste; easy evacuation; reduction in the harmful activities of pests; as well as reduced city flooding among others.Noting that waste management has gone beyond just picking up refuse and dumping them in the landfills, which are currently overstretched, going by the huge volumes of wastes being generated around the city on a daily basis.

The  LAWMA boss said that Adopt-a-Bin programme would promote sorting of waste at source, a key ingredient in the state government’s recycling and circular economy drive. He added that people should know the economic value of what they call “waste” because it’s not waste until you waste it.
He said: ” I  must add that plans have been concluded come 1st of April, 2022, organized Estates and Commercial facilities would continue to pay same amount of their waste bill should they separate their waste from source. In the same vein, should they fail to separate from source, their bill would be reviewed upward by 15% to accommodate fee for sorting at the point of disposal.
‘This becomes necessary for them to support the drive and initiative of separating waste from source, as we cannot continue to endanger our environment. Any estate and commercial premises that does this would be certified as compliant and environmental friendly. May I also use this opportunity, to appeal to our corporate friends for their corporate social responsibility (CSR) to adopt whole communities, especially low-income ones, for mass provision of the standard bins.I have no doubt that this initiative will help us achieve the environment of our dreams, which is a cleaner, healthier and livable Lagos.”