FREEE Recycle Limited, a Nigerian waste management and manufacturing firm, has secured grant funding from the Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO) to establish Nigeria’s first industrial aerosol recycling plant. The facility is expected to address a significant gap in the country’s circular economy by providing a safe, industrial-scale solution for disposing of pressurized containers.
The grant, facilitated through the RVO, marks a strategic expansion for the Ibadan-based company, which has spent the last several years establishing itself as a leader in tyre recycling and rubber-based manufacturing. By moving into aerosol recycling, the company aims to mitigate the environmental and safety risks associated with the improper disposal of pressurized cans used in household products, personal care, and industrial applications.
Aerosol containers, including those used for deodorants, insecticides, and spray paints, are classified as hazardous waste due to the residual propellants and chemicals they contain. In Nigeria, these items are frequently discarded in general waste streams or landfills, where they pose a risk of explosions and soil contamination. The new facility will employ specialized degassing technology to safely extract remaining gases before shredding and recovering the metallic components for reuse in the manufacturing sector.
According to the Netherlands Enterprise Agency, which manages various international programmes on behalf of the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the funding is designed to support innovative projects that promote the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The partnership reflects a growing interest from European development agencies in supporting Nigerian enterprises that can demonstrate both commercial viability and environmental impact.
Scaling Circular Infrastructure in West Africa
The establishment of this plant is expected to create a structured value chain for aerosol waste, similar to the model FREEE Recycle developed for end-of-life tyres. The company currently operates a massive recycling integrated facility in Oyo State, where it converts discarded tyres into various products, including paving stones, rubber mats, and floor tiles. The aerosol project represents a diversification of its waste-to-wealth portfolio, targeting the fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) sector.
Industrial experts note that Nigeria’s manufacturing and consumption patterns have led to a surge in metal-based packaging waste. While the informal sector manages some level of scrap metal recovery, the specialized nature of aerosol cans prevents them from being handled by traditional scrap dealers safely. The presence of a dedicated plant is likely to encourage FMCG companies operating in Nigeria to adopt formal extended producer responsibility (EPR) frameworks, ensuring their products do not end up as environmental pollutants.
The financial injection from the Dutch government is expected to cover a significant portion of the capital expenditure required for the specialized machinery. This includes automated piercing and degassing units that capture volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and propellants, preventing them from being released into the atmosphere. The recovered steel and aluminium will then be processed and sold as high-quality raw materials to the domestic smelting and manufacturing industries.
Beyond the environmental benefits, the project is projected to create dozens of direct technical jobs and hundreds of indirect roles within the waste collection and logistics network. FREEE Recycle has previously emphasized its commitment to community-based waste collection, and the aerosol plant is expected to follow a similar model, incentivising collectors to separate pressurized cans from general refuse.
The timeline for the construction and commissioning of the plant is set to begin shortly, with the company expected to collaborate with Dutch technology partners to ensure the facility meets international safety and environmental standards. This move aligns with Nigeria’s National Policy on Solid Waste Management, which seeks to transition the country away from simple dumping and towards advanced resource recovery and industrial recycling.
As the project progresses, industry observers will be watching how FREEE Recycle navigates the logistical challenges of hazardous waste collection in Nigeria’s urban centres. However, the successful securing of the RVO grant provides a strong financial and institutional foundation for what could become a blueprint for hazardous waste management across the West African sub-region. The development follows a series of reports by BusinessDay highlighting the growing investment in Nigeria’s green economy despite broader macroeconomic headwinds.
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