Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA) on Sunday issued a stern warning to property owners, agents, and private occupiers in the state to desist from illegal recycling and scavenging in unlicensed facilities.
It also advised them to halt indiscriminate sorting, dumping, storing, and trading of recyclable waste in their facilities and public spaces around them.
Commenting on a public notice issued by LAWMA to property owners, agents, and private occupiers, the Managing Director/CEO of the agency, Dr. Muyiwa Gbadegesin, noted that such activities not only degraded the city’s aesthetic appeal but also disrupted the rights of property owners and contributed to serious environmental hazards.
The final public notice read: “LAWMA has observed a rising trend of indiscriminate waste sorting, dumping, and trading of recyclables in unauthorized locations. These activities violate the Lagos State Environmental Management and Protection Law, 2017, and will not be tolerated. Any individual or entity engaging in illegal recycling or scavenging will face strict enforcement measures and penalties as prescribed by law.”
It further cited Part III, Sections 85 and 86 of the law, which strictly prohibit the deposition of recyclable waste in undesignated locations, adding that LAWMA would take all necessary steps to enforce compliance, including prosecuting violators and shutting down offending facilities.
Commenting further, Gbadegesin said: “We cannot fold our hands and watch a few people derail the ongoing efforts to make the environment cleaner and livable for all residents. I also want to add that property owners who permit unauthorized recycling or scavenging activities on their premises risk revocation of property rights and other legal consequences.”
The LAWMA boss urged residents and stakeholders to utilize only licensed recycling facilities and registered waste collectors to ensure proper waste management in Lagos, encouraging the populace to report illegal activities through LAWMA’s official channels.
“We remain committed to achieving a cleaner and more sustainable Lagos, but we need the cooperation of all residents. We urge everyone to comply with the state’s waste management laws and contribute to a healthier environment,” he stressed.
He advised property owners, businesses, and the public to take this final warning seriously and avoid actions that could lead to serious legal repercussions.
In a related development, a joint enforcement team comprising officials of LAWMA’s Monitoring and Compliance Department and the Lagos State Environmental Sanitation Corps (LAGESC) has dislodged squatters and illegal recyclers at the Ijora-Olopa underbridge to sanitize the environment in the area.
Gbadegesin said the enforcement exercise would continue in other areas of the state in line with the zero-tolerance-for-waste policy, adding that there would be no hiding place for individuals or groups bent on causing environmental degradation and undermining the Authority’s efforts.
For further inquiries or to report illegal recycling activities, please contact LAWMA via its customer service lines: 080000LAWMA (08000052962), 07080601020, and 617, or visit www.lawma.gov.ng.
