Olusegun Ariyo
Ogun State Government says it has adopted a new strategy focused on innovation, job creation, and industrial sustainability in tackling Single Use Plastics (SUPs).
The State Commissioner for Environment, Dr Ola Oresanya, disclosed this in an interview on Tuesday, June 24, 2025, in Lagos.
Oresanya, speaking in response to the recent ban on SUPs by the Lagos State Government, said Ogun adopted its new strategy after a thorough environmental assessment, leveraging available technology to drive meaningful change.
Though he commended the Lagos State Government for its policy direction on SUPs, the commissioner emphasised that Ogun’s unique socio-economic and industrial context required a customised approach to waste management and climate action.
“However, Ogun State is charting a different course – one that aligns with our goal of decarbonising industry while stimulating economic inclusion,” Oresanya said.
According to him, Ogun, a highly industrialised state, is implementing a climate strategy centred around reducing carbon emissions through alternative energy sources.
“One of the key solutions being pursued is the conversion of waste, particularly highly combustible materials like single-use plastics, into Refuse-Derived Fuel (RDF).
RDF is an alternative energy source for furnaces and kilns in the cement and metal recycling industries.
“Single-use plastics have a high calorific value, making them ideal for industrial furnaces operating at high temperatures.
“Rather than banning them, we aim to create value through incentivised collection, feeding into the RDF supply chain,” Oresanya said.
He added that, to operationalise the vision, the state is establishing community waste aggregation centres where both organic and inorganic waste, including SUPs, would be processed into RDF.
He noted that the facilities were expected to provide low-skill employment opportunities, especially for vulnerable groups, while simultaneously addressing landfill constraints.
According to him, the state currently generates about 4,000 tonnes of waste per day, a figure far below the estimated 20,000 tonnes needed to fully power the RDF demand from industries.
Oresanya said that a pilot project was underway to optimise waste-to-fuel conversion, with plans to eventually import waste from other states to meet industrial demand.
He said that the initiative was supported by Manufacture Africa, a British corporation in partnership with McKinsey & Company and other international development organisations, all working to create a circular economy around waste in Ogun.
“This is a win-win strategy. We reduce pressure on landfills, provide industries with cleaner fuel alternatives, and put food on the table for thousands by creating jobs,” Oresanya said.
He explained that the Ogun model represented a forward-thinking approach to environmental management, balancing ecological sustainability with economic growth.
He added that instead of an outright ban on SUPs, the state was choosing to create value and opportunity from “what is otherwise seen as waste”.
