Plastic waste in Africa; Any hopes?
Plastic Pollution is a topic that’s approached with distant eyes and nonchalance in our part of the world… especially the lack of structures that enable recycling and personal interest in respect to recycling.
We really don’t have a spare planet, Lol. And it’s our collective responsibility to preserve it, by our conscious environmental behavior, both on a small and large scale.
Plastic waste is growing bane and it’s prompted efforts to write a global treaty, pushed forward by the United nations. Plastic has had its positive place in history, from making space travel possible, equipment for clean drinking water after the World War II and more… the comfort plastic provided or provides birthed the throw-away culture which has led us here.
According to HMRC’s UK, About 800,000 tons of plastic waste was exported from the UK for recycling to nations like china in 2014. In 2016 the world generated 242 million tons of plastic waste. In 2020 it will have risen up to 381 million tons ( 50% of this are single-use plastic and only 9% has ever been recycled) and is on its way to doubling by 2034 if effective and friendly environmental measures of recycling are not in place.
Plastic Recycling and general recycling of waste cannot be overemphasized. As much as notions for a reduced production of plastic is out there… Can modern society truly function without plastic? And what are the ways? Answers are definitely needed.
Over the years plastic waste have been incinerated and used to generate energy for different uses and as much as this seems like a “Yay, we fixing it”. It’s only a little percentage that’s been recycled and also poses its own treat to the climate. Plastic waste have also been used for Land filling which brings us to the question…
To Burn Or Bury Plastic?
Burning plastic creates harmful dioxins and if incinerators are inefficient they leak into the environment. Dominic Hogg told BBC News;
“When coal is phased out for generating electricity, incineration of un-recycled waste will be the most CO2-intensive form of generation. This doesn’t make sense if the government is trying to reduce C02 emissions”
While burning has so far helped in curbing and managing plastic waste in its little way, there’s a case of burying these plastic waste (Land-filling). Land filling is said to be a cheaper way of carbon capture and storage… Governments have in times past said to develop plants that will capture the carbon emission from power stations and force them into the underground rocks.
Burying plastic would have the same effect of locking up unwanted carbon at a fraction of the cost. And in environmental terms, it is generally better to bury plastic than to burn it.
Eleano Polisano, oceans campaigner for Greenpeace UK told BBC;
“When we get to the stage of deciding whether to burn or bury waste, we have already failed, failed some more, and then failed again. However, it is safer to contain that failure than spread it through the atmosphere in the form of toxic gases.”
This makes a strong case for land filling with plastic than incinerating, arguably.
The question is where does Africa come in, in the conversation of recycling and containing plastic waste? And how do we intend to get involved? As much as our governmental bodies need to get to work and put plans and structures in place for recycling, we the individuals, Private companies, etc. need to get on board.
Our water bodies, drainage systems, are grossly clogged with plastic waste, with no view of change or a way out. Open air burning of plastic waste and general waste are on the rise. Emitting more harmful toxins into the atmosphere, leading to air pollution evident as soot in some cities in Africa, especially West Africa.
Possible Ways We Can Contribute In Reducing Plastic Waste ;
- Purchase and use personal paper shopping bags in place of plastic bags.
- Request Paper Shopping Bags at Grocery stores, malls, etc.
- Have a tote shopping bag
- Recycle, in places with recycling structures.
- Bottled things over plastic; this might seem very inconvenient but it’s a huge step in the right direction.
- Avoid single use plastic such as straws.
- Opt for wooden pegs, razors etc.
- Educate friends and family on the importance of plastic use reduction
- Reuse
- Use bottle storage.
There are still ways one can reduce plastic waste, and google will have more resources. The major question in Africa is this; Where do we go with our plastic Waste? If you know of companies or firms with recycling structures for plastic in Africa already? Please do share in the comments with a possible link to them.
Cheers to developing healthier environmental behaviors.
Reduce. Reuse. Recycle.
