A waste and environmental sustainability expert, Dr Olufemi Idowu-Adegoke, has identified poor plastic waste management as a major cause of flooding in Lagos.
Adegoke, however, called for a transition from a disposal-driven system to a circular economy anchored on recycling.
He disclosed this in an interview with reporters on Tuesday in Lagos.
Adegoke said Lagos generates over 13,000 tonnes of waste daily, with plastics such as sachet water nylons and bottles forming a significant portion that often ends up in drainage channels, canals, and lagoons.
He noted that during rainfall, these materials block water pathways, leading to flash flooding across the city.
“Plastics are lightweight and non-biodegradable. When not captured by recycling systems, they are easily washed into drains and remain in the environment for decades,” he said.
According to him, capturing between 30 and 50 per cent of plastic waste would significantly reduce flooding and environmental degradation.
“Every plastic bottle recycled in Lagos is one less blockage in the drainage channel and one less flood trigger,” he said.
Adegoke noted that efforts by the Lagos Waste Management Authority have been partly effective but structurally limited in driving large-scale recycling.
He acknowledged that the agency has built a strong institutional framework since its establishment in 1977, including waste collection systems, regulation of private sector operators, and sustained public awareness campaigns.
He added that recent initiatives such as material recovery facilities, partnerships with recyclers, and educational programmes have improved awareness of recycling.
Adegoke, however, stressed that outcomes remain weak due to policy and system gaps.
He disclosed that plastic recycling rates in Lagos remain between three and six per cent, while other recyclable materials record less than five per cent recovery.
He added that only about 40 per cent of total waste generated is formally collected, leaving large volumes to end up in drains and the environment.
“The system is still largely ‘collect, transport, and dump,’ with heavy reliance on landfill sites instead of recycling,” he said.
Adegoke identified weak enforcement of environmental policies, lack of mandatory waste sorting, and limited economic incentives as major constraints.
“Lagos does not lack policies; it lacks consistent enforcement, economic incentives, and system integration,” he said.
He warned that Lagos is approaching a tipping point due to rising population and consumption.
He called for urgent scaling up of recycling through coordinated actions across policy, infrastructure, finance, and behaviour.
According to him, the state must adopt a recycling-first approach, decentralise infrastructure across communities, and strengthen community-based recovery systems.
He stressed the need to formalise and empower informal waste workers through registration, licensing, and social protection.
“These actors are the backbone of recycling and must be recognised as part of the green workforce,” he said.
Adegoke called for stronger economic incentives, including deposit return schemes, expansion of Extended Producer Responsibility, and tax credits for recycled materials.
He also advocated import duty waivers on recycling equipment and increased investment in local processing capacity such as bottle-to-bottle plants and plastic manufacturing systems.
“Recycling must become more profitable than dumping,” he said.
He further recommended digitisation of the waste ecosystem to track material flows, payments, and carbon savings, as well as integration of recycling into climate finance through carbon credit systems.
On investment, Adegoke said waste management decisions in Lagos should be based on life-cycle cost rather than initial capital outlay.
He explained that while recycling infrastructure requires significant upfront investment, it generates long-term economic and environmental returns.
“Recycling converts waste to value through material recovery, manufacturing, and carbon credits,” he said.
He contrasted this with landfill systems, which he described as a recurring liability with little or no revenue generation.
He noted that Lagos currently operates largely managed dump sites rather than engineered landfills, further limiting efficiency.
According to him, effective recycling would also extend the lifespan of landfill sites by reducing waste volume.
Adegoke said recyclers in Lagos operate in a high-potential but inefficient environment due to structural challenges.
He identified irregular and contaminated waste supply, weak collection systems, and high operating costs as major issues.
“Logistics alone can consume up to 50 per cent of recycling operating costs in Lagos,” he said.
He also cited limited access to finance, high interest rates, and lack of collateral as barriers to growth for small and medium recyclers.
“Other challenges include price volatility of recyclables, land constraints, and weak policy enforcement,” he said.
He further highlighted the marginalisation of informal waste workers, noting that they lack recognition, fair wages, and social protection despite their critical role.
To address these issues, Adegoke urged the government to formalise the sector through the creation of a recycling registry, establishment of cooperatives, and provision of targeted financing.
He also recommended the development of dedicated recycling zones, enforcement of source separation, and introduction of price support mechanisms.
He emphasised the importance of capacity building and public procurement of recycled products to create stable demand.
Adegoke said Lagos must shift from a “pay-to-dump” model to a value recovery system driven by recycling.
“Lagos is still paying heavily for disposal instead of investing in recovery,” he said.
He added that the state already has a functional recycling workforce and does not need to build a new system.
“The government’s role is to formalize, empower, and scale the system that already exists,” he said.
