LAWMA anticipates 150% increase in waste generation

About 25,000 metric tonnes of waste are expected to be generated daily at the peak of this Yuletide, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Lagos State Waste Management Authority, Mr. Oladimeji Oresanya, has said.Giving the figure in an interview with SATURDAY PUNCH, Oresanya said although the state generated 9,000 metric tonnes of waste daily on the average, the record was gradually inching towards 11,000 metric tonnes per day. He said in the next two weeks, waste generation might grow by 150 per cent to hit a record 25,000 metric tonnes daily. Meanwhile, during the same period in 2010, waste generation per day rose by 100 per cent to 18,000 metric tonnes, up from an average of 9,000 metric tonnes before the festive season.Oresanya said that the anticipated figure was arrived at following a research on the trend in the state in the past two years.He hinted that unlike some years ago when the non-native residents travelled en masse out of Lagos to celebrate Christmas and New Year, many now preferred to stay back in Lagos because of the level of insecurity in the country.Besides, he said that recent statistics on daily population inflow into Lagos State had become unprecedented, thus raising waste generation indices.He said, "People now see Lagos as a safe haven from the issue of insecurity across the nation. Population inflow into Lagos is alarming. "In the past two years, people have not been travelling home for the festivities; so, unlike before, the state is still congested late in December. "By implication, there has been a rise in the volume of waste generated at that period of the year and even greater is expected this season."Oresanya said LAWMA was not set to be overpowered by the waste burden as it had made provisions to combat it. Apart from improving its storage system and putting the waste compactors in good shape, he said none of his staff would be allowed to observe the holidays.He stated that waste collecting agencies had been directed to distribute free refuse bags to residents to encourage them to neatly bag their refuse for collection.He said, "Incentives have been arranged for LAWMA members of staff that are going to be working all through this period. No holidays or leave for them; it is a sacrifice in public interest. The challenge will be enormous but we are set to combat it."
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