LIVE UPDATES
The Nigeria Climate Innovation Centre (NCIC) has raised concerns about the proposed green tax on single-use plastics in a report titled ‘Beyond Green Taxes: Embracing the Circular Economy for Sustainable Plastic Waste Management in Nigeria’.
The report highlights the negative impact of plastic waste pollution on public health, ecosystems, and overall well-being in Nigeria.
While the proposed green tax aims to discourage plastic use and generate waste management funds, the report points out potential drawbacks such as job losses, disruptions in the existing plastic waste recycling system, and economic strain on low-income communities that rely heavily on waste picking for income.
The NCIC suggests a circular economy model that emphasizes resource efficiency, reuse, and recycling, including designing products with recyclability in mind, strengthening waste collection and recycling infrastructure, and creating markets for recycled materials.
The Chief Executive Officer of NCIC, Bankole Oloruntoba, emphasized the benefits of a circular economy, stating that it offers a more sustainable and inclusive solution.
He expressed concern about the potential risks of green taxes to the economy and communities, and highlighted the advantages of a circular economy in addressing the root causes of plastic waste, creating employment opportunities, and driving economic growth.
The report emphasizes the significant job creation potential in the recycling sector and the economic and environmental benefits of a thriving recycling industry, including reducing reliance on imported virgin plastic and conserving valuable natural resources.
