Dr Inyene Nkanta
Collaborative Waste-to-Energy Initiative: A partnership between the Dutch company, Harvest Waste Consortium, and the Lagos State Government: It is not a good investment!
The Lagos State Government is actively pursuing solutions to manage the growing issue of waste disposal, particularly in the face of rapid urbanisation and population growth, which is highly commendable.
The state has been exploring various waste-to-energy initiatives, one of which involves the Dutch Government supporting its waste-to-energy project in partnership with a Dutch firm, Harvest Waste Consortium.
The waste-to-energy project with the Dutch company Harvest Waste Consortium is backed by the Dutch government with €120m. The support aims to transform waste into electricity, a process that reduces the volume of waste and generates renewable energy to power parts of the city.
Lagos State produces an estimated 13,000 metric tons of waste daily, and the current waste management system struggles to keep up with disposal requirements. By converting waste into electricity, the state aims to address both waste management issues and its increasing energy demands.
The Dutch government is providing technical expertise, technology transfer, and capacity-building support to ensure that Lagos State can effectively manage and sustain such projects. However, waste incineration in Nigeria presents significant challenges and complexities. Can Lagos State handle the complexities of that?
While it may reduce landfill pressure, it is not a comprehensive solution to Nigeria’s waste management challenges due to environmental, health, and infrastructural issues. Although the Dutch government uses waste incineration as part of its waste management strategy, the Netherlands has a well-developed system for handling waste.
Additionally, the Dutch government promotes more recycling and waste minimization, aiming to reduce the overall amount of waste incinerated. In recent years, there has been increased attention to reducing CO2 emissions from incineration, improving recycling rates, and reducing the incineration of materials that could be reused or recycled.
Despite the promise of waste-to-electricity projects, waste incineration presents several challenges in Nigeria, such as:
1. High Cost of Technology and Maintenance
Implementing large-scale waste-to-energy projects is capital-intensive. Acquiring and maintaining the necessary incineration technology, especially modern, environmentally friendly systems, can strain the state’s budget. Moreover, the operation costs of such facilities tend to be high, which requires long-term financial planning. Will the Dutch company Harvest Waste Consortium be part of the long-term financial planning?
2. Inadequate Waste Segregation
One major challenge is the lack of proper waste segregation at the source. Waste-to-energy systems, particularly incineration, require specific types of waste to function optimally. In many parts of Nigeria, waste is not separated into organic, recyclable, and hazardous categories, making it difficult to manage and process for energy generation.
3. Air Pollution and Environmental Concerns
Traditional incineration can release harmful pollutants into the atmosphere, including carbon dioxide, dioxins, and other toxic substances. Without stringent environmental regulations and modern filtering systems, incineration could worsen air quality in Lagos, posing health risks to residents.
4. Energy Output vs. Waste Availability
While Lagos produces significant waste, not all may be suitable for incineration, especially if organic materials are not adequately segregated. This might result in lower-than-expected energy outputs.
5. Potential for Greenhouse Gas Emissions
Incineration releases CO2 and other greenhouse gases, contributing to climate change. It could undermine environmental goals if not done in a controlled, modern facility with emission controls.
As a Circular Economy expert/researcher, here are some alternatives the Lagos State Government can consider:
1. Waste Recycling and Composting
Recycling and composting programs, though less developed in Nigeria, can reduce the amount of waste sent to incineration or landfills. Increasing public awareness and infrastructure for recycling could be more sustainable in the long run.
2. Waste-to-Energy in Controlled Environments
If incineration is to be considered, it should be done in modern waste-to-energy plants with strict pollution controls and emissions monitoring. This requires government investment, private partnerships, and regulatory enforcement.
3. Circular Economy Approach
Moving towards a circular economy where products are reused, repaired, and recycled could significantly reduce waste and make burning waste a less necessary solution.
This initiative between the Lagos State Government and the Dutch Government offers a promising step towards a more sustainable waste management solution. However, addressing the outlined challenges is key to its long-term success.
If these challenges are not addressed, the Dutch and Lagos State governments will not be making a good investment. Sustainable waste management in Nigeria will likely require a combination of recycling, composting, improved waste collection, and controlled incineration under strict regulations.
*Dr Inyene Nkanta (PhD) is a lecturer at the University of the West of Scotland, United Kingdom
