Lagos State Waste Management Authority


The Lagos State Waste Management Agency is a government of Lagos State body responsible for managing waste generated in Lagos state through a waste collection, transportation and disposal structure. LAWMA's goal is to improve the environment with the impact of achieving positive and significant change in living conditions regarding health and sanitation.

History

The Lagos State Refuse Disposal Board was instituted under Edict No. 9 of 1977, which was the first of its kind in West Africa. The Board was given the responsibilities of environmental sanitation and domestic refuse collection and disposal in Lagos State.
The Board was renamed the Lagos State Waste Management Authority via the enactment of a new Law – Edict No. 55 of 1991, which conferred on the Authority additional responsibilities for the collection and disposal of municipal and industrial wastes as well as provision of commercial waste services to the State and Local Governments of Lagos State.
The Board metamorphosed over the years into the agency known today as the Lagos Waste Management Authority by virtue of the LAWMA Law 2007, and accrued added responsibilities ranging from management of commercial, industrial, and medical waste streams, highway sanitation, cleaning of drainage and other water bodies, to construction and demolition waste management, among others. LAWMA works closely with the Lagos State Ministry of Environment and has initiated reforms regarding collection of waste bills and also aims to increase Waste recycling.
In 2011, GMI awarded a grant to the LAWMA for studies evaluating the feasibility of capturing landfill gas from the Abule Egba and Solous Landfills. Based on their findings, LAWMA developed a landfill gas energy project to avail the local residents a reliable source of electricity.