Dr. Richard Amfo-Otu and Mr. Stephen Omari
The Environment of Mother Earth has served humanity throughout ages very well, yet development activities of this age from social, economic and technology perspectives are posing the greatest danger ever to the sustainability of the environment.
Crucial services provided by the environment, such as the provision of life support, assimilation and recycling of toxic materials and supply of raw materials for development are being pushed beyond their limits through unsustainable consumption patterns and the associated waste of all kinds. The consumption rate and the rate of waste generation of ever-growing world population (about 7.6 billion) require proactive measures to avert negative consequences and other externalities from such activities.
The theme for this year’s Environment Day “beating plastic pollution, improving air quality, and hitting the 1.5°C target” is not only apt but timely considering the rate of production of plastic materials of all types and their usage from the various sectors of the global economy.
Plastic has become more favourable material to be used for various purposes due to its desirable properties including easy handling and moulding into different shapes and products, resistant to corrosion, cheap, and the raw material is readily available as a by-product of crude oil.
Apart from packaging, plastics have been used in many computers and its accessories, cars, construction materials to mention but few. Most of the challenges with plastics are linked to their non-biodegradable characteristics, easy to be transported by air and stormwater, and littering attitudes of members of societies.
Many countries have raised a red flag to ban the use of some plastic products, especially the packaging and carrier bags. They are commonly used, easily and carelessly disposed. Their high calorific value favours combustion of plastics in many countries by members of the society without recourse to their environmental and health effects. Smoke from burning of plastic waste in the home, in hospitals using low technology incinerators and at dumpsites contribute to the global levels of dioxins in the environment.
Dioxins are carcinogens which are persistent, bio-accumulative and stable in the environment. Burning plastics can also have effects on the ozone layer and ultimately contribute to climate change effects.
Indiscriminate disposal of plastics has contributed to siltation of drains and breeding of mosquitoes, pollution of water bodies and negative effects on aquatic life. The ocean is said to have received huge volumes of plastic waste. These and many other challenges associated with the use of plastics have been identified.
Considering these challenges with plastics especially those that are recycled require that some proactive steps need to be taken to protect the environment. It is clear that some plastics cannot be done away with immediately until a suitable alternative is found. Therefore some administrative, technology and innovation, and social change measures need to be adopted to address plastic problems. Administratively, policies, regulations and institutional arrangements need to be apt to address the concerns of managing plastic waste.
Social change activities through change in consumption patterns and attitudes toward the environment need to be employed. Applying technology and innovative use of plastic waste needs to be considered by countries to reduce the challenges with plastic waste management. Using plastic waste to produce oils, pavement blocks, as co-material for construction industries and recycling into new products should be vigorously pursued.
Let us all join hands with the world to beating plastic pollution, improving air quality, and hitting the 1.5°C target” as we celebrate this year’s world environment day. Children, youth and adult should all come on board through the demonstration of the right attitudes towards the environment and handling of plastics. We can if you get involved.
Source:www.newsghana.com.gh