Lagos developers petition govt over waste classification

The Association of Real Estate Developers of Lagos State has petitioned the Lagos State Government over the activities of the Lagos State Waste Management Authority regarding the classification of construction materials as refuse.

The petition, titled “Re: Urgent Petition on LAWMA’s Neglect of Primary Responsibility on Domestic Waste Management and Misclassification of Construction Materials as Waste,” was dated August 10 and signed by AREDOLS Chairman, Kamil Shodeinde, and General Secretary, Ahmod Olukotun. Copies were also sent to the Deputy Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, the Chairman and members of the House Committee on Environment, and the Managing Director of LAWMA.

The news material from the group obtained by The PUNCH on Sunday stated.

The group criticised LAWMA for “referring to planks, derricks, and other construction materials as ‘construction waste’.”

“We wish to state categorically that these items are recyclable materials used for construction purposes and not waste in the ordinary sense. The misclassification and attendant levies/penalties are imposing undue financial burden on developers and end users, thereby worsening the cost of housing and construction in Lagos,” AREDOLS said.

AREDOLS questioned the rationale behind categorising waste into domestic, medical and industrial waste, noting that each category requires different handling and management procedures.

It urged the Lagos State House of Assembly to investigate the failure of LAWMA to effectively manage domestic waste across the state and its impact on public health and the environment, “direct LAWMA to return to its core mandate of domestic waste evacuation and proper categorisation of waste as defined by law and best practice.”

AREDOLS also urged the state assembly to call LAWMA to order on the arbitrary classification of construction materials such as planks and derricks as waste, and to desist from policies that increase hardship on citizens, “ensure accountability and improved service delivery by LAWMA in line with the THEMES+ Agenda of the State government.”

“It is no longer news that domestic refuse has defaced major parts of Lagos State. Our communities are overwhelmed with uncollected household waste, while LAWMA appears to have neglected its primary statutory responsibility of ensuring timely and effective evacuation of domestic waste,” AREDOLS stated.

The group maintained that it remains committed to a clean, safe, and orderly Lagos.

“We believe that urgent legislative intervention will restore sanity to waste management and protect Lagosians from further hardship. We kindly request that this petition be given urgent attention and also published in national newspapers for public awareness and action,” it added.

AREDOLS reiterated that LAWMA should focus on the deteriorating state of domestic waste management across the state, which it said is creating more hardship for residents and end users.