Nigeria’s waste crisis is deepening as population growth and urbanisation fuel higher levels of plastic pollution across the country.
But Nestlé Nigeria and the Food and Beverage Recycling Alliance (FBRA) say a coordinated producer-led recycling system is helping to reverse the trend, with more than 100,000 metric tonnes of plastic waste recovered from the environment so far.
The effort operates under Nigeria’s Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) policy, a framework that places responsibility for post-consumer packaging on manufacturers.
Nigeria generates more than 32 million tonnes of solid waste every year, according to the World Bank, while the United Nations Population Fund estimates the population will exceed 237 million by 2025.
Environmental experts warn that without sustainable recycling systems, plastic waste will continue to clog drainage channels, worsen flooding, and pollute oceans.
The EPR policy, introduced in 2014 by the National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA), was designed to shift waste management away from overstretched public authorities to producers.
That policy led to the creation of FBRA in 2018, Nigeria’s first Producer Responsibility Organisation for the food and beverage sector.
From four companies to 49
FBRA began as a small consortium of four companies.
By November 2025, it had grown into an alliance of 49 member organisations, coordinating plastic recovery, recycling and reintegration into production cycles.
According to Nestlé Nigeria, the model has helped redefine waste “not as a nuisance but as a resource” within Nigeria’s emerging circular economy.
“While FBRA may not be a household name on the streets, its impact is visible in cleaner communities and empowered waste collectors, particularly in Lagos State,” said Victoria Uwadoka, Corporate Communications, Public Affairs and Sustainability Lead at Nestlé Nigeria.
Nestlé’s role
Nestlé Nigeria was one of FBRA’s founding members and remains one of its most active participants.
The company says environmental stewardship is now central to its business strategy.
“Though as producers we compete commercially, we unite as collaborators when it comes to fulfilling shared environmental responsibilities,” Ms Uwadoka said.
In December 2023, Nestlé Nigeria achieved 100% plastic neutrality, meaning it recovered and recycled an amount of plastic equivalent to what it introduced into the market.
Industry analysts describe plastic neutrality as a major milestone in a country where recycling infrastructure remains uneven.
Packaging innovation
Nestlé has also pushed packaging innovation beyond collection targets.
It became the first company in Nigeria to introduce 50% recycled polyethene terephthalate (rPET) into its Nestlé Pure Life water bottles, in line with food-grade standards set by the Standards Organisation of Nigeria.
Sustainability experts say the move shows that recycled plastics can meet safety and quality requirements when proper regulation and oversight exist.
Unlike one-off pilot projects, Nestlé says the rPET initiative reflects a long-term commitment to circular production.
Jobs, value and accountability
Through FBRA’s framework, manufacturers, waste collectors and recyclers operate as a single value chain.
The system not only cleans the environment but also creates income opportunities for informal waste pickers.
“The manufacturers do not produce plastics to litter the streets,” Ms Uwadoka said.
“Consumers discard them, but through FBRA’s system, that waste is recovered, creating jobs and value in the process.”
She added that the focus is not just on collection but on reuse.
“Every bottle that is taken out and doesn’t end up in the ocean is one bottle less of a problem. Closing the loop is key; circularity is the destination. It’s not just about collection but ensuring we use, collect, transform, and reuse.”
Industry and public perspective
Environmental groups say producer responsibility schemes like FBRA reduce pressure on government budgets while encouraging accountability from large manufacturers.
Urban residents, particularly in Lagos, have also reported improved waste collection around informal recycling hubs, although challenges remain in inland and rural communities.
What’s next
FBRA says it plans to expand recovery operations beyond major cities and strengthen partnerships with state waste agencies.
Regulators argue that sustained enforcement of the EPR policy will be critical to scaling impact nationwide.
For Nestlé Nigeria, the company says collaboration, investment and innovation remain central to building a cleaner and more sustainable Nigeria.
