By Kingsley Adegboye

The Lagos State Waste Management Authority, LAWMA has acquired 100 Tata mini trucks for effective management of refuse in the state. The acquisition was informed by the need for proper coordination of refuse or domestic waste in some areas where heavy duty refuse disposal trucks cannot access.

The refuse disposal mini trucks which targets are the low income group in their respective areas, will operate as pay as you drop your refuse bag on daily basis, and charges are negotiable between PSP operators and refuse generators. Cart pushers formerly operating in such areas who have now been integrated into the PSP operations will work with PSP operators depending on agreement.

Handing over of the trucks to PSP operators at Ogudu, Lagos office of LAWMA last week, Lagos State Commissioner for Environment, Mr. Tunji Bello said the identified lapses encountered from the use of heavy duty trucks for waste collection by the PSP operators in the suburbs led to the introduction of the pilot scheme of mini garbage trucks in these areas to ease accessibility and ensure efficient services.

Bello added that the marked improvement recorded in waste collection in the pilot areas informed the need to extend the services to other areas. The TATA mini trucks have a 2.2 litre engine capacity and a four stroke naturally aspirated indirect injection diesel engine. Bello said they were built to easily navigate narrow alleys and enhance their capability to access tropical terrain.

“These mini trucks are also equipped with self-canceling turn signals and hazard warning switch with motorised round-shaped built-in packing lamp. It is rear driven, it can tip and has easy accessibility to poor communities. It can run one kilometre radius, and can also be used to provide community waste depot which is an integral part of communal waste collection services for low income areas.