NESREA Defends Plastic Waste Policy, Cites Economic Gains

The National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA) on Monday expressed concern over what it described as widespread misconceptions surrounding Nigeria’s new Plastic Waste Control Regulations, insisting that the policy is designed to attract investment, create jobs and strengthen environmental sustainability rather than undermine industrial growth.

Addressing journalists at a press briefing in Abuja, the agency defended the National Environmental (Plastic Waste Control) Regulations, 2026, amid growing concerns from manufacturers who have called for the suspension of the policy.

NESREA said the regulations have been wrongly interpreted in some quarters, stressing that the measures are intended to tackle Nigeria’s escalating plastic pollution crisis while creating opportunities in the country’s emerging circular economy.

The agency maintained that fears of mass job losses, factory closures and investment flight were misplaced, arguing that effective implementation of the regulations would instead stimulate growth across the recycling, waste collection, logistics and environmental services sectors.

According to NESREA, Nigeria’s worsening plastic waste challenge has become a major environmental and economic burden, contributing to blocked drainage channels, urban flooding, pollution of water bodies and rising sanitation costs.

The agency noted that the new regulations seek to address these challenges through a phased implementation framework that allows industries adequate time to adjust to the new requirements.

NESREA clarified that contrary to public perception, the regulations do not impose a blanket ban on plastics. It explained that the controversial 80-micron specification applies only to certain categories of plastic carrier bags and does not prohibit plastic packaging materials widely used in the food, beverage, pharmaceutical, agricultural and manufacturing sectors.

Director-General of NESREA, Prof. Innocent Barikor, said the transition plan embedded in the regulations provides manufacturers with several years to prepare for compliance measures, including mandatory recycled content requirements for polyethylene terephthalate (PET) products.

Under the implementation schedule, products will be required to contain a minimum of 25 per cent recycled PET content from January 2028, with the threshold increasing to 50 per cent by 2030.

NESREA further stated that the regulations are based on internationally recognised environmental principles, including the “polluter pays” framework, which requires producers to share responsibility for the recovery and management of waste generated from their products.

The agency argued that the policy would strengthen local recycling enterprises by creating a reliable market for recycled materials and encouraging investment in waste recovery infrastructure across the country.

NESREA also dismissed suggestions that implementation should be delayed pending the execution of the National Plastic Action Partnership (NPAP) Roadmap, insisting that the regulations provide the legal framework required to implement many of the roadmap’s recommendations.

According to the agency, suspending the regulations at this stage could create uncertainty and discourage investors already positioning themselves within Nigeria’s growing recycling and resource recovery industry.

While reaffirming its commitment to stakeholder engagement, NESREA said it would continue consultations with manufacturers, producer responsibility organisations, recyclers and state governments to ensure a smooth transition process.

The agency maintained that collaboration between government and industry remains critical to reducing plastic pollution while promoting sustainable economic development and environmental protection.

The latest debate underscores the growing challenge of balancing industrial competitiveness with environmental responsibility as Nigeria joins other countries adopting stricter measures to curb plastic waste and advance sustainable production practices.