Every year on June 5, the world comes together to celebrate World Environment Day, a call to action for environmental protection and sustainability. This reminds us of our shared responsibility to care for the planet, and nowhere is this more urgent than in Lagos, Nigeria, where rapid urban growth has led to a sad waste management crisis.
Lagos and the Challenge of Waste
Lagos faces a major waste crisis, with consuming over 13,500 metric tons of waste daily, with a substantial portion being plastic waste. A call to action has being made by various stakeholder to bring awareness in the need to reduce , reuse, recycle .
What’s going wrong?
- Poor waste segregation and recycling habits.
- Limited public education on environmental sustainability.
- Outdated infrastructure and logistics for waste collection.
- Over-reliance on informal waste pickers without systemic support.
But Here’s the Good News: Tech Is Rising to the Challenge
As Nigeria’s innovation hub, Lagos is not just sitting back. A new wave of tech-enabled, renewable energy-focused startups and initiatives is pioneering solutions that turn waste into resources and promote a cleaner, smarter city.
1. Smart Waste Collection with IoT
Companies like Wecyclers are using mobile apps and low-cost cargo bikes to incentivize recycling in low-income neighborhoods. Residents sort and exchange recyclable waste for points that can be redeemed as cash or household items. Using data tracking tools, Wecyclers monitors collection rates and identifies underserved areas — making the waste management process more efficient.
Collection of waste using tech solution
2. Waste-to-Energy Innovations
Lagos generates massive amounts of organic waste daily from households and markets.
Energy companies are investing in biogas plants. These plants use anaerobic digestion technology to convert food waste into renewable energy for cooking or electricity, reducing landfill pressure and providing clean energy alternatives.
Startups like Solar Nova and Lihon Energy are exploring how solar-powered solutions can support these systems off-grid, particularly in rural or underserved communities around Lagos.
A house powered by clean energy
3. Plastic Waste Recycling Tech
Nigeria consumes over 1 million tons of plastic annually, and most of it ends up in landfills or waterways. Lagos-based innovators are now using AI and robotics to sort waste more efficiently at scale. Startups like RecyclePoints are combining mobile technology with data analytics to encourage plastic waste recovery and recycling. Users can schedule pickups through an app, receive digital tokens, and contribute to the circular economy.
A green start-up recycling plastic bottles
The Government’s Role in Supporting Green Tech
In 2023, the Lagos State Government launched its Circular Lagos Initiative — a move toward a zero-waste future through partnerships with green tech innovators. The initiative supports businesses using upcycling, composting, and digital logistics to drive sustainability.
Public-private partnerships like these are essential in scaling up solutions and fostering a culture of environmental responsibility.
How do we help?
On this World Environment Day, individuals, businesses, and government bodies must reflect on their role in protecting Lagos’ environment. Here’s how we help:
1.Sustainability in Our Space
We prioritize eco-friendly design, energy-efficient lighting, and minimal paper usage in our co-working and event spaces. We actively encourage digital collaboration tools to reduce physical waste and maintain a low-carbon footprint.
2. Promoting Waste-to-Tech Initiatives
We’ve hosted sessions and incubated startups focused on waste recycling, renewable energy, and green logistics. These startups are using tech, from mobile apps to IoT, to tackle Lagos’ environmental problems in smart and scalable ways.
We promote eco-friendly solution
3. Training Green-Minded Innovators
Our tech training programs often integrate sustainability as a core theme, challenging young developers and entrepreneurs to create solutions that impact the environment positively, from solar energy platforms to plastic tracking apps.
A image of man brainstorming about eco friendly start-up ideas
What Can the Government Do? A Call for Partnership
While the efforts from the tech ecosystem are promising, a truly green Lagos requires public-private collaboration. Here are some policy suggestions from our hub’s research and community dialogues:
1. Green Startups
Offer tax reliefs or grants to startups focused on renewable energy, plastic recycling, and sustainable logistics.
Image of a green startup in the ideation process
2.Fund Smart Waste Infrastructure
Support pilot programs using AI, data, and IoT for real-time waste tracking and optimized collection routes in dense neighborhoods.
Infrastructure for recycling waste
3.Invest in Digital Education for Sustainability
Collaborate with hubs like Vatebra Tech Hub to run state-backed training on environmental innovation in schools and communities.
A lady teaching children the importance of recycling
Conclusion: A Cleaner Lagos is Possible
The waste crisis in Lagos is difficult, but not impossible. With innovation, collaboration, and the right policies, the city can transform its waste into opportunity, powering homes, creating jobs, and preserving nature for generations to come. World Environment Day isn’t just a date — it’s a reminder that with the right tech and mindset, we can build a greener, more sustainable Lagos.