LAWMA, Proganics launch organic waste initiative to curb methane emissions

NIGERIA – The Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA) has launched a new organic waste management initiative in partnership with Proganics Limited, aiming to reduce methane emissions, enhance recycling, and create circular economic opportunities.

Announced at a stakeholder forum in Lagos, the program addresses the growing challenge of food and organic waste in Africa’s most populous city.

According to LAWMA’s Managing Director and CEO, Dr. Muyiwa Gbadegesin, nearly half of the 13,000 tonnes of waste generated in Lagos every day is organic, about 6,500 tonnes, which, when sent to landfills, produces methane, a greenhouse gas with over 80 times the warming power of CO₂ in the short term.

“Sorting organic waste at source is critical to achieving the clean Lagos of our dreams,” Gbadegesin said.

“This initiative is a practical response to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s COP28 pledge to reduce methane emissions and strengthen Lagos’s contribution to global climate goals.”

Proganics Limited has established a 200-tonne-per-day facility powered by Black Soldier Fly (BSF) technology, which converts food waste into high-protein animal feed and organic fertilizers.

The facility provides a sustainable alternative to landfill disposal, supporting both food security and local agriculture.

LAWMA also deploys smart waste technologies, including RFID-tagged green bins and IoT sensors, to monitor and manage organic waste at restaurants, hotels, and event centres.

The innovation is expected to boost efficiency, cut operational costs, reduce odours and pests, and provide rebates to organizations that comply with waste sorting rules.

Proganics Head of Corporate Strategy, Mr. Augustine Ogee, said the model was designed for scale, “This is more than waste collection, it’s about building value chains that support jobs, food systems, and environmental protection. Lagos can lead Nigeria in demonstrating that organic waste is a resource, not a burden.”

Dr. Michael Bankole, Head of Climate Change at the Lagos State Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources, added that the initiative fits within the state’s broader climate resilience strategy.

“A clean city boosts public health, attracts investment, and enhances quality of life. By shifting from landfilling to resource recovery, we reinforce the principle that waste is not wasted.”

The event, attended by stakeholders from the hospitality, food, beverage, and academic sectors, marked the first in a series of community engagements to expand adoption of organic waste solutions across Lagos.

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