NESREA Unveils 2026 Plastic Waste Regulations, Calls for Action on Single-Use Plastics
By Admin
The National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA) has unveiled the National Environmental (Plastic Waste Control) Regulations, 2026, as part of efforts to strengthen Nigeria’s response to plastic pollution and accelerate the transition towards a circular plastics economy.
The unveiling was accompanied by a multi-stakeholder roundtable, tagged the “Plastic Reboot Roundtable,” which brought together representatives of government, industry, the private sector, development partners, academia, civil society and other stakeholders to discuss practical approaches to plastic waste management in Nigeria.
Speaking at the event, the Director-General and Chief Executive Officer of NESREA, Prof. Innocent Barikor, said the new regulations marked an important shift from policy intention to implementation.
According to him, the regulations provide a stronger framework for tackling plastic pollution, promoting producer responsibility, improving material recovery and creating conditions for a more circular plastics economy.
Barikor, however, stressed that regulation alone would not be sufficient to address the country’s plastic waste challenge.
He said effective implementation would require functional waste management systems, responsible markets, innovation, investment and sustained collaboration among stakeholders across the plastic value chain.
NESREA seeks alternatives to single-use plastics
A major focus of the roundtable was the environmental challenge posed by single-use sachet water plastics, with stakeholders challenged to explore practical alternatives that can work at scale.
Barikor said the discussion should move beyond simply asking how existing practices could be regulated to considering what could realistically replace environmentally harmful practices.
He said any alternative must be environmentally sound, economically viable, affordable and accessible to consumers, while also being practical enough for widespread adoption.
The NESREA boss explained that the Plastic Reboot Roundtable was designed to identify promising solutions and create a platform where such ideas could be further developed, tested and piloted.
Producer responsibility takes centre stage
The Director-General also highlighted the importance of strengthening Nigeria’s Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) system and the National Producer Registry.
He noted that effective environmental regulation depends on clear responsibilities, well-defined compliance requirements and reliable systems for measuring environmental performance.
According to him, data should not be treated merely as an administrative requirement but as the foundation for producer accountability, investment decisions, material recovery systems and credible environmental outcomes.
The strengthened producer registration and EPR architecture, he said, would therefore play a critical role in determining how effectively the new regulations translate into measurable environmental improvements.
Government, industry must work together
Barikor called for stronger collaboration between government and stakeholders within the plastics value chain.
He said industries require clarity and predictability in regulation, while government needs credible information and enforceable standards.
He also emphasized the importance of effective coordination with state and local authorities, as well as meaningful participation by producers, recyclers, informal-sector workers, communities and development partners.
The goal, he said, should be to bring the different interests together around a common environmental objective rather than allowing stakeholders to operate independently.
Success will be measured by impact
The NESREA Director-General said the success of the 2026 Plastic Waste Control Regulations should not be judged by the number of provisions contained in the regulation, but by the tangible changes they produce across the country.
He identified key indicators of success as a reduction in the amount of plastic entering Nigeria’s waterways and communities, increased recovery and reuse of recyclable materials, greater producer responsibility, stronger recycling markets and the development of sustainable alternatives to avoidable single-use plastics.
Barikor urged participants at the roundtable to approach implementation with openness, technical honesty and a solutions-oriented mindset.
He said the immediate priority should be to transform the regulation from a policy document into a functional implementation ecosystem capable of delivering measurable environmental benefits.
“Let us use this occasion not simply to unveil a Regulation, but to build the implementation ecosystem that will make its objectives achievable,” he said.
The NESREA chief expressed appreciation to stakeholders for their continued partnership and called for sustained collaboration to ensure that the objectives of the new regulations translate into practical action across Nigeria.
