Plastic in Nigeria
The State of Plastic waste in Nigeria
introduction
Nigeria is facing a critical situation regarding plastic waste management. Each year, the country generates around 5 million tons of plastic waste.
Taking the average figure, this represents a daily production of approximately 13,700 tons of plastic waste per day.
In cities like Lagos, between 800,000 and one million tons are generated annually, i.e., more than 2,700 tons per day in that city alone.
However, the collection and treatment capacity for this waste is extremely limited. Only between 6% and 12% of plastic waste is formally recycled in Nigeria. This means that more than 85% of plastic ends up in uncontrolled landfills, is burned in the open, or directly pollutes rivers, lagoons, and oceans. In fact, it is estimated that around 200,000 tons of plastic waste per year end up in the Atlantic Ocean from Nigeria, positioning the country as one of the largest emitters of mismanaged plastics among coastal nations.
THE PROBLEM OF NON-RECYCLABLE PLASTIC
A key element of the problem is non-recyclable plastics, such as water sachets, multi-layer bags, and metalized packaging. These materials cannot be processed by conventional recycling plants due to their composition, low density, or contamination. As a result, they accumulate with no economic outlet or viable technical treatment within the current system.
This waste often ends up abandoned or burned, contributing to drain blockages, the proliferation of microplastics, and air pollution from toxic compounds such as dioxins and PCBs.
This context reflects an unsustainable and collapsed model, combining high waste generation with insufficient public infrastructure, poor waste recovery, and an informal economy unable to cope with the magnitude of the problem.
Given that only 6–12% is recycled, and that much of the plastic generated is of low recyclability or is not properly collected, it is reasonable to estimate that between 60% and 80% of plastic in Nigeria is not technically, economically, or logistically recyclable in the current context.
PLASTIC POLLUTION IN LAGOS
In Lagos, with more than 22 million inhabitants, the proliferation of single-use and non-recyclable plastic products has worsened the pollution of water, soil, and air. Recently, the Lagos State through the Ministry of Environment has banned single use plastic, which will help mitigate the issue, but there is still a problem of the accumulation for the past decades as well as other plastics that are not of single use.
Now, Lagos, Nigeria, faces a serious plastic pollution crisis.
The study, “Plastic Pollution in Lagos State, Nigeria: Challenges and Sustainable Solutions,” analyzes the abundance of microplastics, the presence of toxic pollutants such as PCBs, and the potential of technologies such as pyrolysis to convert waste to energy.
The study identifies causes such as the widespread use of single-use plastics, inadequate waste management infrastructure, a lack of public awareness, and weak regulatory frameworks. Current management methods include open incineration, informal collection by recyclers, and government programs such as the Blue Box initiative, all of which have failed due to implementation issues.
Environmental and health impacts include the presence of microplastics in the water, high levels of pollutants such as polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in areas near electronic waste dumps, and risks to wildlife, human health, and the climate. Furthermore, studies show that a large portion of the population participates in illegal waste disposal practices, but there is also a high willingness to participate in community cleanups.
Results:
Between 139 and 303 microplastic particles/liter were detected in the lagoon water, composed mostly of polyethylene and polypropylene.
In areas near electronic waste dumps, PCB levels in water, sediment, and wildlife exceed international limits.
Pyrolysis has demonstrated the ability to convert plastic waste into high-quality liquid fuels, with promising energy yields above 80% of recovery
67% of households dispose of waste improperly, but 75% are willing to participate in cleanup efforts.
This waste often ends up abandoned or burned, contributing to drain blockages, the proliferation of microplastics, and air pollution from toxic compounds such as dioxins and PCBs.
This context reflects an unsustainable and collapsed model, combining high waste generation with insufficient public infrastructure, poor waste recovery, and an informal economy unable to cope with the magnitude of the problem.
Given that only 6–12% is recycled, and that much of the plastic generated is of low recyclability or is not properly collected, it is reasonable to estimate that between 60% and 80% of plastic in Nigeria is not technically, economically, or logistically recyclable in the current context.
By Juanjo González Nieto & Akshay Gwallani