Status of Production, Consumption, and End-of-Life Waste Management of Plastic and Plastic Products in Nigeria: Prospects for Circular Plastics Economy

This study is motivated by the need to understand and proffer sustainable circular economy solutions to the persistent challenges associated with plastic waste management in Nigeria. Despite the emerging awareness and increased number of studies conducted on plastic and plastic products in Nigeria, the challenges and opportunities associated with their production, consumption, and post-consumption management are still poorly understood. Besides the large quantity of plastic and plastic products produced locally in Nigeria, a substantial quantity of these products in various forms and polymer types also comes into the country through importation. This results in a high consumption rate and, by extension, a huge volume of plastic waste generated daily exceeding the capacity and ability of the authorities to manage. In this work, we reviewed the available literature to analyze the status of the production, importation, consumption, and post-consumption management of plastic waste in Nigeria. It is estimated that out of 27.3 million tonnes of municipal solid waste currently generated in Nigeria’s urban cities per annum about 11.2 million tonnes is collected, of which about 1.1 million tonnes is plastics. It is further projected that by 2040, about 40.5 million tonnes of municipal solid waste will be generated, and only about 1.6 million tonnes of the plastic component will be collected for disposal. Based on the outcome of the analysis, the current study further suggested how adopting circular economy principles can help mitigate the impact of plastic waste on Nigerian society.