By Newz.Africa Business Desk | Lagos, Nigeria | Published: 20 January 2026 | Africa’s largest plastic recycler.
Polysmart Packaging Limited will invest $60 million to build a facility. It claims this will be Nigeria’s largest plastic recycling plant. The plant will be capable of processing up to 100,000 tonnes of mixed plastics a year. The phased project is scheduled to start operations by March 2026 and reach full commissioning by July 2026.
Key capacity: 100,000 tonnes and food‑grade rPET output
At full run‑rate, the facility is designed to handle 100,000 tonnes of mixed plastics annually. It will produce food‑grade rPET that meets EU EFSA and US FDA standards. This reduces reliance on imported virgin plastics for beverage and packaging brands in Nigeria.
Technology stack matches global recycling leaders
Polysmart says the plant will deploy a Sorema recycling system. It will include TOMRA sorting and two Erema Vacunite units. These systems will deliver high‑purity rPET. The line‑up also enables output of HDPE, LDPE, and polypropylene recyclate for non‑food applications.
Circular economy gains and jobs along the value chain
The company projects thousands of direct and indirect jobs across collection, sorting, transport, technical roles, and operations. The site is expected to divert billions of PET bottles each year from landfills and waterways. It will save up to 170,000 tonnes of carbon at scale.
Timelines and market impact
Phase one is slated for end‑March 2026, with final commissioning in July 2026. For manufacturers, local rPET supply will stabilise inputs and ease foreign exchange pressure tied to virgin polymer imports.
Original Reporting
What we confirmed:
The $60m investment is consistent across multiple independent reports. The 100,000‑tonne annual input capacity is consistent as well. The March–July 2026 timeline matches in different reports. Technology vendors (Sorema, TOMRA, Erema Vacunite) are cited in all sources. The product mix, including food‑grade rPET and HDPE/LDPE/PP, remains the same across reports. Job creation expectations and carbon‑savings estimates align in these documents. Reports: Business Insider Africa, The Guardian Nigeria, MSME Africa, Sustainable Packaging Middle East
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