The Lagos State Government has announced a €120 million investment from the Netherlands government to support its waste-to-energy project in collaboration with Harvest Waste Consortium, a Dutch company.
Tokunbo Wahab, the Lagos State Commissioner for Environment and Water Resources, disclosed this during an interview where he provided updates on several foreign private sector partnerships in waste management.
Wahab explained that the waste-to-energy initiative, which aims to convert part of Lagos’ waste into electricity, will be located at the decommissioned Epe landfill. Harvest Waste is set to process 2,500 to 3,000 tons of waste daily from the 13,000 to 14,000 tons generated by the city.
He added, “The Dutch government is supporting the project with around €120 million. We have designated the decommissioned Epe landfill for this purpose, and we are committed to supplying 2,500 to 3,000 tons of waste daily.”
Wahab also noted that Harvest Waste has completed the feasibility studies and assured the state government of its commitment to the project’s success.
Landfill Decommissioning and Other Waste Management Initiatives
Wahab further revealed that Lagos State is decommissioning several landfills to create space for new waste management projects with foreign partners, including the Jospong Group and Closing the Loop.
The Jospong Group, an Accra-based company, will focus on turning waste collected by Private Sector Participation (PSP) operators into valuable products like compost fertilizers and recycled plastic bins. According to Wahab, operations are expected to start in six to seven months, with the company already having established an office in Lagos.
Additionally, the state is partnering with Closing the Loop, a Dutch company that will manage electronic waste. Closing the Loop plans to build a local facility to process e-waste, reducing the need for exportation and promoting material repurposing within Lagos.
Wahab highlighted that major dumpsites like Olusosun and Solous 1, 2, and 3 are in advanced stages of decommissioning, with new landfills being developed to support these projects. Once these partnerships are fully operational, only 3% to 4% of Lagos’ waste is expected to end up in landfills, aligning with the state’s goal of turning waste into valuable resources and fostering sustainability.