FBRA to Fed Govt: solve plastic pollution crisis through recycling
It maintained that a recycling-led strategy, rather than an outright ban, offers a more practical and inclusive pathway to addressing Nigeria’s plastic pollution challenge.
SEATTLE (Scrap Monster): Food and Beverage Recycling Alliance (FBRA) has urged National Assembly to prioritise investment in recycling infrastructure instead of outright ban on single-use plastics, warning a poorly sequenced prohibition could undermine environmental and economic gains.
It spoke when it appeared before House of Representatives Ad-Hoc Committee on Preparedness for Single-Use Plastics Ban in Abuja.
Presenting its submission, FBRA argued that Nigeria’s plastic pollution challenge is driven less by existence of plastic packaging and more by absence of efficient collection, segregation and recycling systems, as well as poor disposal practice.
Citing data from United Nations Industrial Development Organisation, the group noted that Nigeria generates about 2.5 million tonnes of plastic waste annually, while waste management infrastructure is significantly underdeveloped.
FBRA noted its track record since inception in 2018, including recovery of over 117,000 tonnes of post-consumer packaging, establishment of 16 collection centres in six geo-political zones, and engagement with over 200 communities.
It also noted development of a closed-loop recycling system for PET bottles in Lagos, which has contributed to measurable reductions in plastic leakage.
The Alliance said its member companies have invested over N1.3 billion in plastic waste collection infrastructure, while the broader sector has committed more than N3 trillion towards recycling facilities.
It warned that an abrupt ban could strand these investments and stall progress in building the infrastructure tackle plastic waste effectively.
FBRA position aligns with views at the hearing. The Speaker, through a representative, called for a structured transition, while Committee Chair, Terseer Ugbor, emphasised need for reforms that balance environmental sustainability with economic realities.
FBRA proposed a circular economy framework based on three key strategies: reducing material use through packaging optimisation, promoting reuse systems to extend product life cycles, and expanding recycling through stronger take-back schemes and investment in recovery facilities.
It also raised concerns about potential socio-economic impact of an outright ban, noting that beyond about 25,000 direct jobs in the plastics sector, over three million indirect livelihoods in logistics, informal waste collection, aggregation and recycling could be at risk.
It said waste collectors and aggregators critical in recycling chain, could lose their primary sources of income without a structured transition plan.
Executive Director, Agharese Onaghise, called for “just transition” that reflects realities while setting clear and achievable targets for the future.
“What we are asking for is a just transition, One that is honest about where Nigeria’s infrastructure is today, sets clear and achievable targets for where it needs to be, and invests in building the systems that will make those targets real, That is the only approach that can deliver genuine environmental gains without destroying the livelihoods of millions of Nigerians,” he said.
She also appealed for more investment in research to identify sustainable packaging alternatives that are applicable in the food and beverage sector.”
FBRA further recommended a phased national roadmap to 2040 aligned with Nigeria’s Circular Economy Roadmap (2024), the introduction of mandatory recycled-content requirements, integration of informal waste collectors into a formal Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) framework, and the creation of a transition finance facility supported by concessional funding.
The Alliance commended existing regulatory efforts, particularly the National Guidelines for EPR Implementation on Packaging (2025) and called for sustained stakeholder engagement to accelerate their enforcement.
It maintained that a recycling-led strategy, rather than an outright ban, offers a more practical and inclusive pathway to addressing Nigeria’s plastic pollution challenge.
Courtesy: www.thenationonlineng.net