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Ghana to Introduce Degradable Plastics |
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One of the most useful but yet hazardous products ever introduced to mother Earth is Plastics. Plastics are known, based on research, as non-biodegradable. Polythene is the most common used plastic – primarily for packaging. However over the few decades the usage of plastics is becoming more often attached to human activities than expected. Globally, 1 million plastics are used every minute. This environmental problem is epitomized by outrage surrounding the disposal of the plastic bag. In an average 12 months, 13 billion of them are dished out to consumers. They are generally employed or used for a mere 20 minutes before being discarded, and take a gargantuan 1,000 years to rot to nothing. In advanced and well developed countries, measures are put in place to cater for a more environmental friendly ways of handling the waste produced from plastics and polythene but yet plastic waste remains a global threat. In Africa, most countries do not have an environmentally efficacious way of handling plastic waste but yet we use these products even more carelessly than in other parts of the world. The amount of polythene used by the population of people in developing countries compared to developed countries is far greater. Ghana is one of the countries in Africa whose citizens have well adapted to the usage of polythene. As at the periods of 1990 to 2000, most people used paper as a primary source of wrapping and collecting purchased items. Between these periods, Obuasi (the golden city of Ghana) and areas around Aburi (Eastern Region, Ghana) were some of the places where I recall seeing school children buying food served in leaves, women going to market with their baskets not polythene bags (of different design and colours – causing visual pollution). When purchasing items of larger volume which cannot be wrapped in paper, people carry baskets or napkin to collect or wrap these items. Cities in Ghana were much cleaner and beautiful. However, in recent years, usage of polythene has risen to become a threat for the environmental sector (particularly, waste management) in Ghana. Polythene flying in the air, beaches filled with plastic bottles and drainage systems choked with plastic products are some of the attributes of the plastic menace in Ghana.
Following a recent flood disaster in Accra (Ghana?s capital city) and a lot of voices being raised by environmental advocates in Ghana such as the Green Africa Youth Organization?s "Anti-Plastic Campaign" supported by Samsung Engineering and UNEP through Tunza Eco-generation, a decision was made by the Ghanaian government to ban light plastics (polythene) in November this year. The ban was intended to help Ghana deal with waste management as most of the waste generated now are plastics, particularly polythene bags. However, the Ghana Plastic Manufacturers Association has petitioned that the ban should be suspended as they are keen to make their products degradable. The Ministry of Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation and the Ghana Plastic Manufacturers Association has agreed that adding oxo-biodegradable additive to the manufacturing process will make the plastics decompose with time. As at now, it is expected that plastics produced by manufacturers will be degradable. Although the time span for degrading has not been announced, most environmental activists are expecting that plastic produce manufactured after this announcement will be degradable. Also research must be conducted to assess potential effect of this activity on soils. Currently, the Attorney General?s Department of Ghana is drafting a low on this issue to enhance an enforceable outcome of this news.
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I. Kumasi Landfill Site, Ghana. Photo Credit: Nicholas Seun Adatsi.
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16 Comments
Interesting. Great post!
Posted 28-11-2015 16:40
Great news ! Thanks for sharing Joshua !
Posted 25-11-2015 05:06
Two more report of mine...please have a look-
SAVE (Sustainable Agriculture for Vitalising Environment) LAND
http://tunza.eco-generation.org/worldReportView.jsp?viewID=13737&searchType=&searchName=&pageNumber=5
Also read,
'Korea India Friendship – Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow.'
http://tunza.eco-generation.org/worldReportView.jsp?viewID=13738&searchType=&searchName=&pageNumber=1
Though its long i have highlighted the interesting points. Thank You!!
Posted 24-11-2015 14:34
The use of plastic is still somehow inevitable these days, however this degradable plastic really means something! We could definitely reduce landfills and the carbon footprint caused by using and creating plastics. I hope that this could be spread worldwide.
Posted 23-11-2015 22:52
I am happy about the announcement of the degradable plastics but I really fear for its implementation. I will follow closely and I hope it works out.
Posted 19-11-2015 20:18
That's a good start! In our country we started using recycled paper bags and eco bags as our alternative to lessen the use plastic. I hope we can all contribute to saving mother nature! :)
Posted 19-11-2015 15:38
Plastic is indeed a serious problem. This non-biodegradable stuff has caused pollution all over the world. Glad to hear that your country tried to make biodegradable plastic. It's good initiative for a greener plastic product.
Posted 19-11-2015 12:35
Such an applauding job . Hapoy happy
Posted 18-11-2015 11:29
Thats a very good initiative.Hope it is a success.Thanks for sharing,Joshua.
Posted 18-11-2015 00:57
Thanks for reading and sharing your thoughts. I will always commend Rwanda for banning plastic ban as early as 2005. I hope other countries make wise decisions soon enough since we do not have effective recycling companies in most African countries.
Posted 17-11-2015 05:08
Anti plastic campaigns by environmental activists did play a role and had an impact so much that Ghanian government decided to ban light plastics. It was a good move in the direction of environment protection. But because of petition by Ghana Plastic Manufacturers Association it seems use of plastics is continued with an assurance that these plastics used now will be degradeable. Hope it eventually proves good and pro-environment. Thanks for sharing, Joshua
Posted 17-11-2015 04:31
Great news mate!!! Thanks a lot for sharing!! Here in Brazil it started to work in some regions! =) That a great way to make a better world. Keep it up! =)
Posted 17-11-2015 02:43
Nice :)
Posted 17-11-2015 02:13
A great step up in fighting Global Warming. I feel other countries should follow in Ghana's footsteps. Nice one Ghana!
Posted 17-11-2015 00:41
Anti-Plastic Campaign by Green Africa Youth Organization & other drives to ban / replace with degradable plastic is a welcome step in right direction. Thanks for reporting Joshua.
Posted 16-11-2015 21:34
I too believe that as Africans we should take a leaf from the previous generations and stop the usage of too much plastic. In my country, some supermarkets now offer cloth bags to carry groceries in. Although cloth is also a menace in pollution, its use reduces the usage of plastic hence provides a sort of 'lesser evil'.
I applaud your government for taking a step in the conservation direction and hope the project is a success. Thank you for sharing :)
Posted 16-11-2015 20:28