Nigerians gear up to fight the growing menace of plastic waste.
Things are looking greener as an increasing number of locals enter the fray of recycling plastic waste and the government initiates steps to prioritise combating plastic pollution.
Beaches and water bodies littered with plastic water bottles-pouches-food packets, landfills overflowing with plastic waste, sewage lines choked with plastic debris, and waste-cluttered roadsides have long been a familiar sight for residents across Nigeria. And why not? Africa’s largest economy is the seventh-highest generator of plastic waste globally, with a whopping six million tonnes of plastic waste churned out every year!
Critics have blamed the alarming numbers on excess consumption, lack of awareness about plastic pollution and inefficient disposal, recycling, and waste management systems. But fortunately, a new generation of green warriors is confronting Nigeria’s plastic waste challenge and finding ways to combat it.
Today, when countries grapple with economic issues, employment concerns, and socio-political challenges, Nigerians have acknowledged the ties between plastic pollution and economic and environmental health. The need to prioritise the war against plastic waste is now. This realisation has led to an increase in the number of startups creating awareness, promoting, and enabling plastic waste recycling.
One of the most popular ways to achieve plastic recycling has been the cash-for-waste model taken up by recycling banks in Abuja and Lagos. Helmed mostly by Nigerians keen on creating a greener and cleaner homeland, these startups and plastic waste recycling units are aiming to create a circular economy to combat the economic, socio-political, and environmental challenges of modern Nigeria.
Until recently, Nigerians were unaware of collecting and recycling plastic waste to create premium reusable raw plastic substitutes or even using recycled plastic to generate end products. Yet, sustained awareness campaigns initiated by these companies in association with local authorities alongside incentives like providing cash for waste, employment opportunities, or even organising the collection of recyclable waste is gradually leading to an attitude change. On the other hand, companies are slowly warming up to the idea of using recycled plastic waste to develop daily-use products, installations, and artworks.
The urgent need for solutions is evident in the government’s actions too. In 2021, the government of Nigeria announced its decision to join the World Economic Forum’s Global Plastic Action Partnership alongside Indonesia, Ghana, and Vietnam to facilitate efforts to fight plastic pollution. The partnership is likely to see Nigeria’s leading policymakers, civil society organisations, business leaders, thinkers, and environmental experts band together to conceptualise and systematically change the circular economy and fight against plastic pollution.
These may seem like micro-steps in the face of an increasingly dismal waste crisis, but the passion for making the vision of a greener and cleaner Nigeria a reality has given rise to a new revolution that can only lead to a brighter Nigeria for future generations.
