Lagos State recorded a significant milestone in electronic waste management, recycling over 405 tonnes of e-waste in 2025, according to the Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA).
The Managing Director of LAWMA, Dr Muyiwa Gbadegesin, disclosed the figures during an interview in Lagos, highlighting steady progress in the stateβs formal recycling efforts.
Data from the agency shows a consistent rise in e-waste processing, increasing from 305.63 tonnes in 2023 to 355.15 tonnes in 2024, before reaching 405.17 tonnes in 2025.
Electronic waste, commonly referred to as e-waste, includes discarded devices such as mobile phones, computers, batteries, refrigerators, and televisions. These materials often contain hazardous substances like lead and mercury, making proper disposal critical.
Dr Gbadegesin noted that the Lagos State Government has intensified efforts to promote safe handling and disposal of e-waste. This includes the establishment of a dedicated e-Waste Unit to oversee operations and enforce compliance.
The state currently works with 17 certified recycling companies and approved collection centres to ensure environmentally safe processing of electronic waste.
LAWMA also plays a regulatory role by integrating informal operators into the formal system, raising awareness about the dangers of improper disposal, and ensuring adherence to environmental standards.
Despite these improvements, environmental experts have raised concerns about gaps in the current system.
Dr Leslie Adogame, Executive Director of Sustainable Research and Action for Environmental Development (SRADeV), described e-waste as a major public health threat due to toxic elements such as arsenic.
He stressed the need for a comprehensive approach that includes safe collection, transportation, and recycling, noting that current infrastructure remains insufficient.
Adogame also pointed out that public awareness about e-waste risks is still low, especially at the household level where improper disposal often begins.
According to him, Lagos faces a shortage of recycling capacity relative to the volume of electronic waste generated, alongside poor waste segregation practices that complicate recycling efforts.
He called for stronger implementation of the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) framework and improved funding for environmental initiatives.
Similarly, Mrs Adedayo Adebayo, Director of e-waste management at the Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency (LASEPA), emphasized the importance of awareness at the point of collection.
She revealed that the agency supervises about 30 registered collectors and collaborates with regulatory bodies to ensure proper waste handling across the value chain.
LASEPA also conducts environmental monitoring, including testing of air, water, and soil, while enforcing strict bans on harmful practices such as open burning of electronic waste.
The agency is working to organise informal waste operators into cooperatives to improve compliance and strengthen enforcement.
Stakeholders, however, warn that informal recycling activities still dominate the sector.
Mr Philip Jakpor of the Renevlyn Development Initiative noted that many residents either store old electronics at home or resort to unsafe disposal methods due to lack of awareness and economic constraints.
He identified poverty as a key factor driving the use of second-hand electronics, often without understanding the associated health risks.
Mr Friday Oku, President of the Association of Scrap and Wastepickers of Lagos, said informal collectors frequently rely on unsafe techniques such as burning and manual dismantling to recover valuable materials.
He called for government intervention to formalise the sector, provide training, and equip workers with protective tools.
Oku also recommended the creation of designated collection hubs in major markets and stricter enforcement of environmental regulations.
As Lagos continues to scale up its e-waste management efforts, experts agree that stronger policies, increased awareness, and better infrastructure will be essential to address the growing environmental challenge.
