Effective policy, sound waste management needed to check plastic pollution

Parliament is calling on the Government of Ghana to institute an effective plastic policy backed by an active waste management system and law enforcement.

The legislators maintain that plastic waste menace is multifaceted, and demand diverse approaches that include policy solutions, increased awareness, improved design and disposal processes, useful to changing behaviour.

The call follows a statement by Dr Clement Apaak, Member of Parliament (MP) for Builsa South, on the floor of Parliament, in Accra, discussing sanitation challenges in Ghana, and how to mitigate its harmful effects on the environment.

Plastic is the common term for a wide range of synthetic or semi synthetic organic amorphous solid materials derived from oil and natural gas.

It is a unique material with many benefits being cheap, versatile, lightweight, and resistant; making it a valuable material for many functions, and also providing environmental benefits through certain supply chains.

Plastics also plays a critical role in maintaining food quality, safety and even preventing waste.

Dr Apaak, in the statement, however, noted that a major concern about plastics in the waste stream is their longevity and whether or not they are truly biodegradable.

Most plastics would take 500 to 1000 years to break down into organic components. Because of this longevity and low rate of recycling much of the plastic waste end up in landfills or as litter.

Some plastic waste make their way via rivers and wind into the ocean. Garbage barges and the trans-continental transport of recyclable materials also lead to an increasing amount of plastics in the oceans and waterways.

However, debated rages on as whether to ban some types of plastics or an outright ban on all plastics; which Dr Apaak suggests improving the overall waste management system through investment in sustainable disposal infrastructure and improving waste collection systems.

He suggested that recycled plastic can be used as filler for cement blocks, ropes, baskets, mats and bags, adding that by using plastic waste for products with monetary value, citizens were incentivized to collect plastics.

The Builsa South MP called on individuals to manage plastic waste at the household level, stressing effective strategies to educate and motivate citizens to effect behavioural change.

“This could be undertaken by community based sanitation ambassadors,” Dr Apaak said.

Rev John Ntim Fordjour, Member of Parliament for Assin South in his comment called for the enforcement of the existing sanitation laws to ensure the proper disposal of plastic waste.

He said the National Commission on Civic Education (NCCE) should be tasked to create awareness among students in the various schools to adhere to the proper disposal of waste.

Dr Rashid Pelpuo, MP for Wa Central, identified the inability of the country to manage the plastic waste as a major problem facing the nation, and pointed out that indiscipline and the lack of awareness among the people was also a key challenge to the proper disposal of plastic waste.

He called on the Minister of Environment, Science and Technology to bring a policy to Parliament on how to transform plastic waste into some beneficial use for the country.