An environmental utility group contracted by the Lagos State Government to implement the Cleaner Lagos Initiative (CLI), Visionscape Sanitation Solutions, has announced the opening of the Tapa Transfer Loading Station (TLS), thus paving the way for waste collection in the State in line with global best practice.
The new facility located on Lagos Island will serve as one of many hubs strategically located throughout the State that will enable Visionscape temporarily deposit collected waste from within city limits to be transported in bulk to the landfills after processing.
The new facility in Tapa is the first completed TLS as the company is currently renovating other stations in Mushin, Agege and Oshodi as part of its mandate to provide integrated waste management solutions for the treatment of municipal solid waste and wastewater under the CLI.
Speaking during a tour of the new facility, Visionscape Chief Operating Officer, Mr Thomas Forgacs, said the company was delighted to launch the new TLS, and assured Lagos residents of timely collection and disposal of the tonnes of domestic solid waste generated daily in the State.
According to Forgacs, “Transfer Loading Stations are the unsung heroes in the waste management supply-chain; they are fundamental in driving efficiency into waste collection and transportation services. The TLS will serve as the middleman between waste collection vehicles and the final disposal facilities.
“Also, the transfer stations will receive approximately 6,700 tons of waste a day. The facilities will feature a central tipping bay, a waste reception bay, administrative buildings and waste processing,” he said.
On her part, SWM Solutions Executive Director, Tolagbe Martins said the before introduction of the CLI, focus was only on disposal without any system to support waste beyond collection, but that the new environmental policy of the State Government was carefully designed to comprehensively address waste collection, disposal and management.
“The Cleaner Lagos Initiative is creating an enabling environment. Before now, there was only focus on disposal and no system to support the waste beyond collection. The collection is the beginning of the cycle, and the CLI is providing a world class sanitation structure that includes mechanized sweeping by trained community sanitation workers, transfer loading stations, sorting and recycling, innovative waste bins, regular waste collection and more.
“We are pleased to inform you that the work which has been going on over the past 15 months is rolling out now,” Martins said.
Also speaking, Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Ministry of the Environment, Mr. Abiodun Bamgboye, said it was gratifying that Visionscape had proven its commitment to develop and implement advanced processes in solid waste and wastewater management operations by introducing innovative approach, adding that state-of-the-art transfer loading stations would be a game changer in the sector.
The CLI was established to address, enforce and regulate the challenges in the solid waste management systems within Lagos State. The initiative focuses on the environmental remediation and fulfilling the State’s commitments to Sustainable Development Goals.
