From Trash to Treasure: Battling Plastic Pollution in Nigeria and Beyond

By Nightengale Ben-Onyeukwu

Imagine you’re going for a walk or a drive in the lively streets of Nigerian cities. As you move along, it’s hard to miss something quite striking – there are plastic things thrown everywhere, like old friends who’ve overstayed their welcome.

When you decide to cool off with a swim in one of Nigeria’s beautiful rivers, you might think you’re escaping the plastic clutter on land, which sounds refreshing, right? Well, think again. Even in the tranquil waters, you might discover yourself floating amidst a sea of abandoned plastic stuff, like unwelcome guests at a party. It’s a sight that’s hard to ignore and tells a story of its own about our environment.

The scale of this issue is truly staggering. Millions of plastic products are manufactured and sold every year, but a significant portion of them is carelessly discarded after a single use. As a result, millions of these plastics end up in various undesirable locations each year, including gutters, unregulated dumping sites, remote natural areas, and scattered along roadsides, where they can take centuries to break down.

What’s even more concerning is the alarming rate at which plastic waste is finding its way into our oceans and streams. Each year, approximately eight million tonnes of plastic are tossed into the ocean or flowing water. Some researchers predict that this figure could double by 2025, while others suggest that our oceans may contain more plastic than fish by the year 2050.

This is not just an environmental problem; it’s a critical global issue that demands immediate attention and action. If we don’t address plastic pollution urgently, it will continue to harm our planet, wildlife, and future generations.

Plastic pollution, which encompasses the accumulation of various plastic items such as bottles and broken chairs, is a pressing issue. In Nigeria, the annual generation of plastic waste is estimated to reach a staggering three million tonnes, making it the largest plastic waste producer in Africa. Unfortunately, only a mere ten percent of this vast quantity is recycled, leaving the remaining plastics to infiltrate our environment, leading to ocean pollution and harm to our ecosystems.

This problem of plastic waste extends beyond Nigeria’s borders; it is a global challenge. In the 20th century, plastic was hailed as a revolutionary material that transformed industries, economies, and our everyday lives. However, a significant driver of the plastic waste crisis is the sheer volume of plastic produced each year, spanning from packaging to consumer goods, as plastics have become indispensable in modern society. In 2019, global plastic production reached a staggering 368 million metric tonnes, a number that continues to rise steadily.

It is alarming to note that since the 1950s, over 8.3 billion metric tonnes of plastic have been produced globally, with only a small fraction being recycled or incinerated. This mounting production and inadequate disposal practices have created an immense challenge for our planet, one that requires urgent attention and global cooperation to mitigate the detrimental impacts of plastic pollution.

Plastic production in Nigeria is on the rise, mirroring the growth in population, which is projected to increase from its current 220 million to an estimated 401 million by 2050. However, there is a positive trend emerging in Nigeria, where individuals are actively taking steps to reduce plastic waste. They are doing this by collecting discarded plastics from dumps or the roadside and sending them for recycling, where they can be transformed and repurposed, serving the community once again.

The question that arises is a pertinent one: if these plastics can be recycled and put to good use, why litter them around to pollute our environment? This proactive approach to plastic waste management not only helps reduce pollution but also highlights the importance of recycling and responsible disposal practices. It reflects a growing awareness of the need to protect our environment and demonstrates the potential for positive change when communities take action to address plastic pollution.

Kelechi Igwe, a plastic scrap collector from Ebonyi State, stood amidst piles of plastic waste at his workplace, beaming with pride as he shared how he contributes to cleaning up our environment.

He explained, ‘I believe that nothing should go to waste. Take, for instance, these plastics lying all around the streets. Since people have realised they can earn money from their plastic waste, the litter has decreased. After people finish collecting the plastic waste, they bring it to us for processing. Before we grind the plastics in our machine, we carefully separate the different colours. Then, we send the ground-up plastics to other states where they’re used to make chairs, containers, waterproof materials, lightweight plastics, and more. It’s a wonderful feeling to know I’m making a positive contribution to the world.’

A warm smile lit up his face as he spoke about how trash could be turned into valuable items that people would appreciate once again.

He continued, ‘If everyone collected plastics and sent them for recycling, we wouldn’t just be saving our environment, but also helping protect animals and sea creatures.’

Kelechi’s dedication to recycling plastics serves as an inspiring example of how individuals can play a crucial role in keeping our environment clean and reducing the harm caused by plastic pollution.