Reps panel proposes green tax on polypropylene manufacturers

The house of representatives ad-hoc committee on the ban ofsingle-use plastics in Nigeria has proposed introducing a green tax onpolypropylene manufacturers. Polypropylene is a common plastic made from propylene gas,used in packaging, disposable cups, woven bags, and household items. Speaking on Tuesday in Abuja at the committee’s inauguralmeeting, Terseer Ugbor, chairman of the panel, said the house will alsoconsider legislation to regulate polypropylene production and promote recyclingas part of a national strategy to curb pollution and protect public health. “Polypropylene’s environmental impact is substantial anddisturbing. During the production process, it releases toxic chemicals likeformaldehyde and benzene, putting workers and nearby communities at risk,” hesaid. “It is responsible for enormous carbon emissions and reliesheavily on fossil fuels, contributing to resource depletion. As waste,polypropylene isn’t biodegradable, lingering in landfills for up to 500 yearsand polluting our oceans and harming marine life in the process. “Nigeria cannot afford to continue on this path ofenvironmental neglect. Our industries must take responsibility for theecological footprints they leave behind.” The legislator said the committee would work with ministryof environment and the National Environmental Standards and RegulationsEnforcement Agency (NESREA) to develop policy framework for the proposed greentax and integrate polypropylene recycling into the national waste managementprogramme. “This committee will work with all relevant stakeholders toensure that sustainable, environmentally responsible solutions are not justrecommended but implemented,” the lawmaker said. Ugbor said the committee will conduct a public hearing withstakeholders, including manufacturers, recyclers, and environmental experts, toensure the proposed regulation is equitable. “This is not about taxation. It is about responsibility,sustainability, and protecting the future of our environment and our people,”he added. Last year, the house of representatives asked the federalgovernment to ban the production, importation, distribution, and use ofstyrofoam and single-use plastics nationwide. The Lagos government had also announced a ban on the usageand distribution of styrofoam and other single-use plastics in the state.

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