ABSTRACT
The waste generated from the use of plastics is a major cause of environmental challenge in Nigeria. Plastic waste which is non-biodegradable is dumped on the streets, in water bodies and dumpsites in Nigeria. Also, plastic waste is disposed of in the country by burning or burying. The poor management of plastic waste in the country is a major cause of environmental challenges such as land, air and water pollution. This is unlike Uganda, Singapore and France where plastic waste is effectively managed. Efforts at regulating plastic waste include recycling, ban on single-use plastics, tax regime on plastic bags, imposition of fines and prison sentence. The aim of this thesis is to examine plastic waste management in Nigeria, Uganda, Singapore and France through a comparative study using the doctrinal research methodology.
This research finds that plastic is used for packaging and other purposes in Nigeria and that plastic wastes such as plastic bags and plastic packaging accounts for a huge proportion of solid wastes generated in Nigeria. The study also finds that although there are environmental laws and regulations which have been put in place by government in Nigeria to address waste management, plastic waste is not properly managed in Nigeria, leading to blockage of drainages, flooding, land, air and marine pollution, alteration of soil texture, health-related problems and other environmental challenges. The study further finds that despite these environmental laws and regulations, the poor implementation of these laws and regulations, corruption of officers, inadequate funding by government, poor waste management practices by citizens, illiteracy and ignorance, poor infrastructures for waste management such as recycling plants or integrated waste plants have limited the efficiency of these legal frameworks in Nigeria. In contrast to the position in Nigeria, this study finds that plastic waste is effectively managed in Uganda, Singapore, and France where environmental laws and effective regulatory policies such as ban on plastic bags/adoption of paper bags as alternatives, waste segregation and plastic waste recycling have been put in place.
This study contributes that the harmonization and amendment of existing waste management laws and regulations in Nigeria, formulation of eco-friendly policies and practices such as recycling of plastic waste, ban on the use of plastic bags, adoption of paper bags as alternative, provision of eco-incentives, imposition of fines and prison sentence are ways to address the challenge of plastic waste management in the country. This study concludes that the problem of environmental degradation or pollution, health challenges and other problems caused by poor plastic waste management in Nigeria would be ameliorated by strict enforcement of environmental laws and regulations.
