Let’s promote the use of ‘friendly’ plastics

Since Ghana exchanged paper bags for plastic ones, things have spiralled out of control and plastics are now used in packaging everything imaginable, from water to hot soups. So pervasive is  the dependence on plastics for packaging that no community has been spared the menace.  Urban and rural areas are littered with plastic waste.

Indeed our neighbourhoods, markets etc have become so unsightly that in the view of one foreign visitor, Ghanaians are planting plastics instead of flowers to beautify the cities and towns. Aside being unsightly, the plastic  waste is creating a lot of environmental challenges for the country.

Simply put, the country is unable to deal with the sheer volumes of plastic waste being generated and has not  adopted proper waste management processes. Consequently, most of the waste generated ends up choking drains and water bodies, leading to flooding and its attendant havoc.

Some of the waste ends up on the beaches, leaving them filthy and unattractive, while fishermen have also been ‘harvesting’ plastic waste instead of fish; thereby taking a toll on the fishing industry as well.

Over the years, the harm that the over-reliance on plastic materials have wreaked and continues to do on the  environment and livelihood has been quite monumental.

It is against this background that we deem the Ministry of Environment, Science and Technology’s decision to introduce biodegradable plastics in collaboration with the relevant authorities and industry players as a step in the right direction.

The initial directive, however, created the misconception that there was a total ban on plastic materials which weigh 20 microns and below, leading to confusion amongst manufacturers and those whose livelihoods depend on the plastic industry.

However, the ministry, through its Public Relations Officer, Alhaji Zakari Musah, has  explained that it has reached an agreement with the Ghana Plastic Manufacturers Association to ensure that plastic products  are made with oxo-biodegradable additives  as a way of safeguarding the environment  and some manufacturers have started complying with the directive since November 1, this year. According to him, the earlier directive is still being considered by a technical committee.

Adding  oxo-additives to plastics  will  ensure that plastic products manufactured henceforth will easily decompose without posing any threat to the environment.

The Mirror  is of the view  that the decision to tackle the plastic menace from the production point  has the support of all well-meaning Ghanaians  and all players in the sector  must lend support to the initiative in order to come out with solutions that will serve the best interest of the country.

We will also entreat the ministry to provide the manufacturers with the needed technical and logistical support to ensure that the programme succeeds.

It is further hoped that the relevant institutions will provide the necessary supervision to ensure total compliance with the final decision. That way we can safeguard the environment and protect the future of the nation and our own lives.