The Lagos State Government, through the Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA), has issued a warning to property owners, agents, and private occupiers to desist from engaging in illegal recycling and scavenging in unlicensed facilities......CONTINUE READING THE ARTICLE FROM THE SOURCE>>>>>
LAWMA also urged them to stop indiscriminate sorting, dumping, storing, and trading of recyclable waste within their properties and in public spaces around them.
In a public notice addressed to property owners, agents, and private occupiers, the agency condemned the increasing trend of unauthorized waste sorting, dumping, and trading of recyclables in unapproved locations.
“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,” the notice read partly.
The notice cited Part III, Sections 85 and 86 of the law, which strictly prohibit the disposal of recyclable waste in undesignated locations.
It further stated that LAWMA would take all necessary steps to enforce compliance, including prosecuting violators and shutting down offending facilities.
Speaking on the directive, the Managing Director/CEO of LAWMA, Dr. Muyiwa Gbadegesin, emphasized that such activities not only degrade the city’s aesthetic appeal but also pose significant environmental hazards and infringe on property owners’ rights.
“We cannot fold our hands and watch 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 unauthorised recycling or scavenging activities on their premises risk revocation of property rights and other legal consequences,” Gbadegesin warned.
He urged residents and stakeholders to patronize only licensed recycling facilities and registered waste collectors to ensure proper waste management in Lagos.
He also encouraged the public 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 waste management laws of the state and contribute to a healthier environment,” he stressed.
He further advised property owners, businesses, and the public to take this final warning seriously to avoid severe legal repercussions.
On Thursday, a joint team comprising officials from LAWMA’s Monitoring and Compliance Department and the Lagos State Environmental Sanitation Corps (LAGESC) dislodged squatters and illegal recyclers at the Ijora-Olopa underbridge on Thursday, aiming to sanitize the area.
Gbadegesin stated that similar enforcement exercises would continue in other parts of the state as part of the government’s zero-tolerance policy on waste.
He reiterated that there would be no hiding place for individuals or groups engaging in activities that contribute to environmental degradation and undermine the authority’s efforts.