The Lagos State government said it had taken a major step towards turning tonnes of solid waste generated in the metropolis into usable energy to power a total of 40, 000 homes across the state.

This is as Governor BABAJIDE SANWO-OLU, formalized a partnership with a Dutch firm, Harvest Waste Consortium, for the construction of a high efficiency Waste-to-Energy plant on Epe landfill, which will utilize advanced technology to generate clean energy from municipal solid waste, commercial and industrial waste.

The innovative waste management solution is expected to take some 40,000 homes off the national electricity grid, as the technology would enhance energy security and diversification, generating between 60 and 75 megawatts of base-load electricity annually.

SANWO-OLU said the partnership represented a “monumental step” forward of his administration’s waste management strategy, stressing that the move marked another milestone in the journey to build a clean, healthy, and more sustainable city.

Commissioner for Environment and Water Resources, TOKUNBO WAHAB, said the partnership created a new mandate for Lagos to seek solid waste management solutions.

Deputy Consul General of the Netherlands Consulate, LEONIE VAN DER STIJL, said the partnership presented the possibility of international collaboration to solve local challenges, noting that Lagos, through the pact, became the first partner of the Dutch waste management.