Initial Inventory of Plastics Imports in Nigeria as a Basis for More Sustainable Management Policies

Abstract

Background.Plastic is a waste stream with recycling and recovery potential. However, the recycling rates for plastic in African countries are low. Furthermore, use and production of virgin plastics are increasing. Therefore, a high proportion of plastic waste is being disposed of in landfills and dumpsites. Plastic serves as fuel for open burning at landfills/dumpsites with associated releases and constitutes a large fraction of marine litter, making it a major and growing global pollution concern.Objectives.This study aims to develop an initial inventory of plastics in Nigeria towards the development of an effective plastics management frame.Methods.A search was conducted of the recent literature and the United Nations (UN) Comtrade database using harmonized system (HS) codes for import data of various polymer categories and major product categories containing plastic. Algebraic expressions were developed for calculation of the share of plastic in these products.Results.Approximately 14,200,000 tons of plastics in primary form were imported into Nigeria between 1996–2014. Approximately 3,420,000 tons total plastic were imported in the form of products and approximately 5,545,700 tons were imported as product components. Approximately 194,000 tons of plastic toys were imported over a six-year period.Discussion.The total amount of plastics imported in primary form and as products equals 17,620,000 tons. The total volume of imported plastic, newly produced plastic and plastic components going into the technosphere was 23,400,000 tons. The huge amount of plastic and other polymers entering the technosphere in Nigeria has important implications for marine litter, pollution, waste management and resource recovery.Conclusions.A huge volume of plastics has entered the Nigerian technosphere, with less than 12% of the resulting waste entering the recycling stream. There is a need for sustainable management of this crucial waste and resource category. Potential mitigating strategies include waste plastic reuse, recycling, waste conversion to energy, and appropriate plastic control policy frameworks.Competing Interests.The authors declare no competing financial interests.

Plastic Waste Sorting Intentions among University Students

“…Low-density polyethylene has been majorly imported into Nigeria over the last two decades and then used to produce a wide range of plastic products (grocery bags, cling wraps, sandwich bags, bubble wrap, fertilizer sacks, refuse bags and plastic bottles). However, these are often used once and discarded [5,11]. Additionally, polypropylene has also been used majorly in Nigeria's manufacturing industries.…”

“…Even though plastic is considered to have high recycling and recovery potential, the rate of recycling, which is reported to be less than 12% in Nigeria [5], does not match the fast pace at which plastics are being produced. For instance, the reported rate still falls short when compared to other neighboring regions like Cameroon, where it has been reported that the annual recycling rate of plastic waste is 20% [4].…”

“…For instance, the reported rate still falls short when compared to other neighboring regions like Cameroon, where it has been reported that the annual recycling rate of plastic waste is 20% [4]. In India, at least 47% of generated plastic waste is recycled [5]. Furthermore, Babayemi et al [5] report that plastic recycling and recovery rates are high in more industrialized countries where waste separation schemes are in place.…”

“…Globally, a major contributor to MSW in the last decade is plastic waste [4] generated mainly from the packaging industries. Between 1996-2014 approximately 4.4 million tons of plastic material have been imported into Nigeria [5] from other countries. Furthermore, over 50% of 13 million tons of plastic produced between 2015 and 2016 in Nigeria are single-use disposable plastic products, compounding the solid waste predicament [6].…”

Plastic wastes: environmental hazard and instrument for wealth creation in Nigeria

“…Plastics wastes are hardly recycled in Nigeria with less than 12% being recycled and about 80% of these wastes end up in landfills and dump sites [17]. Meanwhile landfills have been reported to contribute about 20% of Green House Gases (GHG) such as carbon dioxide (CO 2 ), methane (CH 4 ), sulphur and nitrogen gases, and fossil fuels [18].…”