World Environment Day 

NEWS COMMENTARY ON WORLD ENVIRONMENT DAY AND THE NEED FOR GOVERNMENT TO TAKE PRAGMATIC DECISION ON SINGLE USE PLASTICS AS PART OF MEASURES TO CURB PLASTIC POLLUTION 

One of the important days on the UN calendar is the World Environment Day. The day was established by the UN General Assembly in 1972 with the first observation in 1974. Over the years, the day has been used for flagship campaigns to create awareness on emerging environmental issues; from marine pollution, human over population, global warming to sustainable consumption and wildlife crime. The day is being observed by more than 150 countries with the global observation in India. The first theme of the day was "Only One Earth" but it has since had different themes with this year's theme being "Beat Plastic Pollution.” It is estimated that annually about five trillion plastic bags are used globally. Out of this figure 13 million tones end up in the oceans, the equivalent of a full garbage truck every minute.  Also, it is stated that, plastics produced in the past decade is more than what had been produced in the last century. This is really alarming but what is even worse is that 50 percent of the plastics are single use. An example of this include straws and transparent rubber bags used in selling all sort of cooked foods and plastic bottles for beverages and water. Again reports indicate that about one million plastic bottles are bought every minute, with plastics making 10 percent of waste generated globally. Scientists have stated that emerging health issues are all indication of pollution. There have been warnings of doom if these environmental issues are not addressed.

The UN Environment Assembly in Nairobi last year, had its overall theme as "Towards a Pollution Free Planet". Delegates agreed to address the pollution of air, land and soil, fresh water as well as oceans. According to the UN Environment programme, if commitments of members are met, 1.45 billion people will breathe clean air, with one third of the world's coastline being cleaned of plastics. Even though other forms of pollutants also contribute to the global environment problem that of plastics is alarming. This is because plastics are not biologically degradable. Plastics choke drains and contribute to flooding. Improper disposal lead to outbreak of epidemics, which most developing countries are not able to deal with because of poor health care systems. These plastics also end up in the oceans affecting marine resources, causing economic hardship to fisherfolks.  

Whether it is a plastic bottled soft drink, a bag from the supermarket or straw used in drinking coconut juice, single-use plastic has become embedded in our daily lives. The low cost, convenience and lightness of these products revolutionalised the packaging of goods. However, it is now clear that this convenience has a catastrophic impact on the environment which is adversely affecting our health and the economy as a whole.  Though some African countries including Rwanda, Kenya, Morocco have banned single use plastic bags, this didn't come easy.  In the case of Ghana, plastic manufacturers were asked to use biodegradable additives or a total ban on rubber bags after a severe flooding in 2015. Though manufactures agreed to manufacture oxo biodegradable bags, most of them are not complying with that directive. The Environmental Protection Agency and the Ghana Standards Authority mandated to compel plastic manufacturers to do the right thing must do all within their constrains to properly regulate the use of plastics in the country. Outright ban will be the way to go if all stakeholders are properly schooled on the dangers of plastics to the environment. It is obvious that plastic bag manufacturers may be affected with an outright ban but they must be innovative and consider the long term effects of their operations on the environment.  

Some countries that haven't ban plastics completely have imposed heavy taxes on the products, making it expensive for users. Ghana is yet to take a decision on plastic bags.  The government is therefore using World Environment Day to dialogue on how to address the plastic menace.  Some of the issues been deliberated upon are the need for a draft policy on plastics, oxo biodegradable plastics and financing plastic waste management programmes. This has become necessary against the background that the country has only one functional waste dump site and it will be full before December this year. Government should encourage the private sector to establish more recycling plants to help recycle waste to take off the burden on the single overstretched landfill site.  It is also essential to put in place systems to encourage waste segregation at home and at all public places as part of the overall waste management regime. Whatever decision is taken to address the issues will not be easy on Ghanaians, who have for a long time been using single use plastic bags in wrapping almost everything.  A ban will drive innovation for other alternatives to plastics and in the end, industries will not be affected like it has happened in Kenya. Shoppers will save money by reusing biodegradable bags. As we observe this day, let us all resolve to take simple actions on daily basis to reduce the number of plastics we use.  We should all help to "Beat Plastic Pollution." 

BY: JOYCE GYEKYE A JOURNALIST.
---DECRYPTED---