Nigeria's overwhelming plastic waste, at 2.5 million tonnes annually, is not just an eyesore; it's a silent threat to the nation's food security. In this edition of WeekendSalvo@NaijaAgroNet, REMMY NWEKE details how plastic pollution contaminates soil, endangers livestock, and devastates the fishing industry, while Nigeria moves towards a circular economy and sustainable policies.
Each year, Nigeria generates over 2.5 million tonnes of plastic waste, a staggering amount that overwhelms our current waste management systems. A significant portion of this in excess of 200,000 tonnes is discharged into the Atlantic Ocean, devastating marine life and our vital fishing industry.
With a recycling rate of less than 12 per cent, the vast majority of this plastic pollutes our environment, creating a silent but deadly ripple effect.
Effects on Agriculture:
The agricultural sector, the lifeline of our economy, bears a heavy burden from this plastic menace. From our farms to our coastlines, the impact is direct and severe.
On soil contamination, for instance, plastic waste breaks down into tiny, insidious microplastics that contaminate farmland. These particles could alter soil composition, reduce fertility, and stunt crop growth, directly threatening the harvests that feed our nation.
Harm to Livestock and Wildlife: Animals often mistake plastic for food, leading to blockages in their digestive systems, starvation, and death. This affects not only wildlife but also the livestock that are crucial to our rural economy.
Threat to Fishing: In our coastal communities, plastic clogs waterways, damages fishing gear, and poisons the marine ecosystem. This has a direct impact on the livelihoods of millions of Nigerians who depend on fishing for their survival.
Global crossroads:
As the world negotiates a legally binding United Nations (UN) Plastic Treaty, Nigeria is at a critical crossroads. As a member of the High Ambition Coalition, our nation is advocating for a strong treaty that limits production and bans harmful plastics. This is a powerful stance that signals our readiness to move beyond simply managing waste.
Local opportunity:
The true solution lies in embracing the circular economy, a system that mimics nature by treating waste not as an endpoint, but as a new beginning. It's a "waste-to-wealth" model where every material is a valuable resource.
Effects on Agriculture:
The agricultural sector, the lifeline of our economy, bears a heavy burden from this plastic menace. From our farms to our coastlines, the impact is direct and severe.
On soil contamination, for instance, plastic waste breaks down into tiny, insidious microplastics that contaminate farmland. These particles could alter soil composition, reduce fertility, and stunt crop growth, directly threatening the harvests that feed our nation.
Harm to Livestock and Wildlife: Animals often mistake plastic for food, leading to blockages in their digestive systems, starvation, and death. This affects not only wildlife but also the livestock that are crucial to our rural economy.
Threat to Fishing: In our coastal communities, plastic clogs waterways, damages fishing gear, and poisons the marine ecosystem. This has a direct impact on the livelihoods of millions of Nigerians who depend on fishing for their survival.
Global crossroads:
As the world negotiates a legally binding United Nations (UN) Plastic Treaty, Nigeria is at a critical crossroads. As a member of the High Ambition Coalition, our nation is advocating for a strong treaty that limits production and bans harmful plastics. This is a powerful stance that signals our readiness to move beyond simply managing waste.
Local opportunity:
The true solution lies in embracing the circular economy, a system that mimics nature by treating waste not as an endpoint, but as a new beginning. It's a "waste-to-wealth" model where every material is a valuable resource.
For Nigeria, this means leveraging our rich agricultural by-products, from crop stalks to food processing waste; to create valuable new materials, such as biodegradable plastics and eco-friendly products.
The government is already driving this change with policies like the National Policy on Plastic Waste Management and the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR), which holds companies accountable for the entire lifecycle of their products.
The government is already driving this change with policies like the National Policy on Plastic Waste Management and the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR), which holds companies accountable for the entire lifecycle of their products.
Conclusion:
Though the exact number of companies that have subscribed to EPR in Nigeria varies depending on the waste stream and the specific Producer Responsibility Organization (PRO) they belong to.
For the plastics sector, WeekendSalvo@NaijaAgroNet gathered that over 40 companies have joined the Food and Beverage Recycling Alliance (FBRA), which is the PRO responsible for plastic waste, which is a key part of Nigeria's move toward a circular economy.
There are also other PROs, such as the E-waste Producer Responsibility Organisation Nigeria (EPRON), which was established in 2018 for the electronics sector.
These policies are the foundation of a sustainable future where we can clean our environment, protect our farms, and build a more resilient, self-sufficient nation.
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