Towards an appropriate legal framework for sustainable management and disposal of plastic waste in Nigeria: Lessons from other jurisdictions

• Citation: (2023) 10(1) Journal of Comparative Law in Africa 103
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.47348/JCLA/v10/i1a5
• Published date: 11 September 2023
• Pages: 103-132
• Author: Egeruoh-Adindu, I.
• Date: 11 September 2023

103 https://doi.org/10.47348/JCLA/v10/i1a5

TOWARDS AN APPROPRIATE LEGAL

FRAMEWORK FOR SUSTAINABLE

MANAGEMENT AND DISPOSAL OF PLASTIC

WASTE IN NIGERIA: LESSONS FROM OTHER

JURISDICTIONS

Izuoma Egeruoh-Adindu*

Abstract

Plastic pollution from unsustainable management and disposal of plastic waste on

land and in the marine environment is a very serious problem. Statistics indicate

that more than one million plastic bags are used every minute, and approximately

500 billion plastic bags are used annually worldwide. This phenomenon has

raised global concern leading to the adoption of measures by countries, including

legislation to mitigate plastic waste pollution in the environment. Employing

desk-based research methodologies, this paper examines the problems associated

with the indiscriminate disposal of plastic waste in Nigeria. The paper argues

that the extant legal framework on the management of solid wastes is ineffective,

too general and does not take cognisance of the peculiarities and environmental

hazards associated with plastic waste. The paper concludes that an appropriate

legal framework complemented by effective enforcement mechanisms that target

plastic waste management and sustainable disposal are required to address the

problem. This paper, therefore, calls for the passage of the Plastic Bag (Prohibition)

Bill of 2018 before the National Assembly and the effective implementation of

the recommended measures aimed at ensuring environmentally-friendly disposal of

plastic waste in Nigeria.

Keywords: Plastic waste; land and marine environments; sustainable disposal

Résumé

La pollution plastique due à la gestion et à l’élimination non durables des

déchets plastiques sur terre et dans l’environnement marin est épouvantable. Les

statistiques indiquent que plus d’un million de sacs en plastique sont utilisés

chaque minute, et qu’environ 500 milliards de sacs en plastique sont utilisés

chaque année dans le monde. Ce phénomène a suscité une inquiétude mondiale qui

a conduit à l’adoption de mesures par les pays, notamment de législations visant à

atténuer la pollution de l’environnement par les déchets plastiques. En s’appuyant

* BL LLB LLM: Senior research fellow Nigerian Institute of Advanced Legal Studies. Email:

i.egeruoh@nials.ed.ng.

(2023) 10(1) Journal of Comparative Law in Africa 103

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104 JOURNAL OF COMPARATIVE LAW IN AFRICA VOL 10, NO 1, 2023

https://doi.org/10.47348/JCLA/v10/i1a5

sur des méthodologies de recherche documentaire, cet article examine les problèmes

liés à l’élimination sans discernement des déchets plastiques au Nigeria. L’article

soutient que le cadre juridique existant sur la gestion des déchets solides est trop

général et inefficace et ne prend pas en compte les particularités et les risques

environnementaux associés aux déchets plastiques. L’article conclut qu’un cadre

juridique approprié, complété par des mécanismes d’application efficaces qui ciblent

la gestion des déchets plastiques et leur élimination durable, est nécessaire pour

résoudre le problème. Ce document appelle donc à l’adoption du Projet de Loi sur

Les Sacs en Plastique (Interdiction) de 2018 devant l’Assemblée nationale et à la

mise en œuvre effective des mesures recommandées visant à assurer l’élimination

écologique des déchets plastiques au Nigeria.

Mots-clés: Déchets Plastiques; Environnements Terrestres et Marins;

L’élimination Durable

Introduction

Combating plastic waste pollution on land at sea is a grave environmental

challenge in Nigeria.1 Plastic waste pollution is attributed mainly

to improper disposal of plastic materials from wide usage in various

sectors. The amount of plastic materials used annually have grown

steadily, resulting in a phenomenal increase in plastic waste and marine

litter.2 Being adaptable and lightweight are the drivers for its growing

use and suitability for various applications. Plastic’s relatively low cost

and excellent oxygen-moisture barrier properties make it an effective

packaging material. Its ubiquitous use is evident in packaging, automotive

and industrial applications, medical delivery systems, artificial implants

and other healthcare applications, water desalination, preservation,

construction, and household appliances.3

Over the last 60 years, the production of plastic materials has increased,

while improper disposal has resulted in the pollution of both the land

and the marine environments, threatening the safety and health of

animals, wildlife, aquatic life, and humans.4 Economic growth, changing

1 Kehinde, O. Ramonu, O.J. Babaremu, K.O. & Justin, L.D. ‘Plastic wastes: environmental

hazard and instrument for wealth creation in Nigeria’ available at https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/

pmc/articles [Accessed on 2 January 2021].

2 Olanrewaju, Olawale Olugbenga & Oyabade, Damilola ‘Environmental menace of plastic waste

in Nigeria: Challenges, policies, and technological effort’ available at https://www.researchgate.net/

publication/335989265_environmental_menace_of_plastic_waste_in_nigeria_challenges_policies_

and_technological_efforts [Accessed on 20 June 2020].

3 Subramanian, P.M. ‘Plastics recycling and waste management in the U.S.’ available at

https://www.aceee.org/files/proceedings/1999/data/papers/SS99_Panel1_Paper40.pdf [Accessed

on 4 June 2020].

4 Thompson, Richard C. Moore, Charles J.Vom Saal, Frederick S. & Swan, Shanna H. ‘Plastics,

the environment and human health: Current consensus and future trends’ available at https://www.

ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2873021/ [Accessed 20 June 2020].

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