Waste disposal: Lagos sets to seal houses without bins

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The Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA), on Wednesday, announced plans to begin sealing of homes without waste bins on Lagos Island and Mainland, beginning from July 7, 2023.

This follows the earlier issuance of abatement notices to those areas two months ago, urging property owners and residents to procure adequate waste bins for their homes.

Executive Director, Finance of LAWMA, Kunle Adebiyi, who disclosed this in a statement, said sufficient notices had been given to tenements to procure the standard waste bins.

According to him, the notice of intention to seal would serve as a final warning to residents, who were yet to procure the bins and maintain proper waste management practices.

He added that the enforcement action was aimed at encouraging responsible environmental behaviour and to reduce pollution in the city.

He said: “It is crucial for residents to cultivate proper environmental habits and support the efforts of the Authority to establish a cleaner and more liveable environment. By taking action against violations and ensuring compliance, we can create a sustainable environment, and help build a city of our dream.

“LAWMA’s Enforcement Team will target areas on Lagos Mainland and Island, where violations have been observed. The team will carry out thorough inspections to identify individuals, households, or businesses that have consistently neglected waste management guidelines.

“Those found in violation will receive an intention to seal notice, outlining the specific actions required to rectify the situation and avoid further penalties.

“The exercise will be in phases, this is the phase one, and we will visit other areas in the state to ensure full compliance.”

The executive director urged residents to take responsibility for maintaining a clean and healthy environment for all, noting that by adhering to waste management regulations, residents could contribute to the overall cleanliness and sustainability of the environment.

“By adhering to government’s directive for tenements to procure standard covered bins, would ensure that our wastes are properly containerised.

“This will help save the environment from indiscriminate waste disposal and other hazardous consequences, such as flooding and outbreak of diseases,” he noted.

He said LAWMA had been actively working towards improving waste management in Lagos, implementing various initiatives such as waste sorting campaigns, recycling programmes, and public awareness campaigns, with the aim of instilling a culture of responsible waste disposal, to minimise the adverse impact of waste on the environment.

Adebiyi appealed to residents to join hands with the state to establish a cleaner and healthier environment, by shunning indiscriminate waste disposal and taking advantage of the waste management services provided by Private Sector Partnership (PSP) operators.