Plastic Waste in Nigeria
Have you ever heard of the saying ‘’what goes around comes around”? I’m literally singing that song – You know it. Well, that’s exactly what achieving circularity in the economy is all about. It’s like a cycle where all the profits and surpluses earned by businesses are reinvested. It goes into production, creating longer opportunities for making profits, reducing prices for customers, and using fewer raw materials. It’s a way of ensuring that we’re not wasting resources or money. It’s also ensuring that we’re being more sustainable in our approach to business, the economy & the ecosystem. Think of it like this; it is a continuous loop where everyone benefits in the end. By adopting circular practices, companies can improve their bottom line through reduced costs, enhanced customer loyalty, and access to new revenue streams. With this, individuals can enjoy greater access to affordable, high-quality goods and services.
Given the significant impact that plastic pollution has on Nigeria’s economy, it is important to consider ways in which we can reduce this waste and transition to a more circular economy. Currently, Nigeria is ranked ninth in the world among countries contributing the most to plastic pollution. This is largely due to the fact that over 88% of plastic waste generated in the country is not recycled. It leads to plastic waste littering our streets, roadsides, and waterways, posing serious threats to the environment and public health. Many of these plastics contain harmful chemicals, such as Phenol, Bisphenol A, and Phthalates, which can harm our environment and health. The Nigerian government has also taken steps to address plastic pollution. In 2019, the government introduced a ban on the use of plastic bags. While the ban has yet to be fully enforced dictates the reason why the issue of plastic pollution is now of greater concern in Nigeria at present.
Creating a Sustainable Future
Recycles Pay, a global initiative employs an initiative by incentivizing people to collect and recycle plastic waste. Participants who collect plastic waste are then given incentives and rewards. Although there are efforts to recycle in Nigeria, plastic pollution remains a significant concern. This is because there are n’t enough ways to recycle it properly. Also, many people don’t know about the importance of recycling or how plastic pollution can harm the environment and health. To address this, we need to keep improving the ways we recycle and teach more people why it’s important to take care of our waste in a better way.
Therefore, to effectively tackle the problem of plastic pollution in Nigeria, it is important to prioritize investments in recycling infrastructure. Setting up a plastic waste collection system in urban, suburban, and rural locations could assist in tackling this problem and diminishing the volume of plastic waste that accumulates in landfills and harms the ecosystem. In addition, to encourage more people and businesses to recycle and use sustainable waste management practices, the government can offer rewards like tax incentives or tax break and even incentive programs. This will help to promote wider adoption of waste management practices. This can also help create a culture of responsible waste management in Nigeria where people see the benefits of recycling beyond environmental protection.
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