The National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA) says Nigeria’s new plastic waste regulations are creating opportunities for investment in recycling and the circular economy.
The Director-General of NESREA, Professor Innocent Barikor, stated this during the commissioning of Polysmart Packaging Limited’s 60-million-dollar food-grade recycled Polyethylene Terephthalate (rPET) plant in Lagos.
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Professor Barikor explained that the National Environmental (Plastic Waste Control) Regulations, 2026, provide a regulatory framework for promoting producer responsibility, plastic recovery, recycling and resource efficiency.
He said the regulations prescribe a phased increase in recycled PET content in plastic products, beginning with 25 per cent by 2028 and rising to 50 per cent by 2030.
The NESREA Director-General stressed that achieving the targets would require substantial investment in infrastructure, modern technology, reliable collection systems and quality recycled materials.
He noted that the new facility would enable post-consumer plastics to be converted into reusable materials, while creating employment opportunities and supporting innovation across the recycling value chain.
Professor Barikor assured investors of the Agency’s commitment to strengthening environmental regulations that protect the environment while providing a predictable operating environment for responsible businesses.
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He urged Polysmart and other industry operators to maintain environmental safeguards, responsible sourcing, traceability and accountability in their recycling operations.
In his remarks, the Managing Director of Polysmart Packaging Limited, Wasiu Abolaji Abiodun, said the company was expanding its plastic waste collection infrastructure through a nationwide network of agents.
He disclosed that the company planned to establish collection points across all 774 Local Government Areas in the country to improve access to recyclable materials.
Abiodun said the company had invested in technology to support the implementation of the National Guidelines on the Extended Producer Responsibility Programme and the Plastic Waste Control Regulations.
He explained that the facility, when operating at full capacity, would process 100,000 tonnes of mixed plastics annually, equivalent to approximately 6.5 billion PET bottles.
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According to him, the plastics would undergo sorting, washing and decontamination before being converted into food-grade recycled PET materials suitable for manufacturing new bottles.
The commissioning represents an investment in Nigeria’s recycling capacity, with stakeholders expecting the facility to strengthen plastic waste recovery, promote resource efficiency and support the development of the country’s circular economy.