The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has introduced a new recycling initiative at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) in Lagos. The project aims to minimize waste production and lower carbon emissions across the facility. FAAN Managing Director, Mrs. Olubunmi Kuku, noted that the airport produced 1,446 tonnes of waste in 2023 and 1,383 tonnes in 2024, nearly all of which ended up in landfills without any processing.
This new circular economy strategy will roll out in three distinct phases. Phase one involves the placement of colour-coded recycling bins inside airport terminals to encourage waste sorting at the point of origin. Subsequent stages will include installing large outdoor collection receptacles and partnering with certified experts to process plastics, glass, cans, and organic waste into reusable materials.
Kuku explained that the initiative is designed to reduce operational costs, lower expenditures on new supplies, and eventually support a Waste-to-Power project. Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Mr. Festus Keyamo, praised the effort, noting that it aligns Nigerian airports with international standards for greener, cleaner operations championed by organizations like the Airports Council International and the International Civil Aviation Organisation. Board Chairman Dr. Abdullahi Ganduje pledged full support from the board to maintain the program’s long-term success.
