Plastic Menace in Ghana
Plastic pollution in Accra Ghana, photo credit: Muntaka Chasant
It is no secret that plastic is ubiquitous. Plastic pollution is one of the most serious environmental issues of the 21st century. Plastics are not only detrimental to the environment, but they are also harmful to animal and human health. According to the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), the equivalent of one garbage truck’s worth of plastic is dumped into the oceans every minute. Ghana is not exempted, though, as the problem of solid waste is apparent throughout the country. The majority of plastic in Ghana originates from plastic bags and food wrappers, which have a short lifespan yet remain in the environment for centuries. According to reports, Ghana produced over 850,000 metric tons of plastic in 2022, with just 9.5% of these plastics recycled. Over 80 countries, including 30 African countries, have banned single-use plastics completely or partially. The question is whether Ghana is prepared to follow in the footsteps of countries such as Kenya and Rwanda in banning the use of plastic bags.
Plastics are made from fossil fuels such as natural gas and crude oil, which explains their role in climate change. Plastic pollution is a product of human negligence. The majority of pollution is caused by improper handling of home plastics, the throw-away culture of plastics, and poor recycling methods. Plastics have unique properties that make them irreplaceable. They are cheap, conveniently available, lightweight, and durable. As they are cheap, they are produced in huge quantities, which makes controlling their use difficult. Plastics are durable and designed to last, which means they will be stuck in the environment for centuries. Plastics are also non-biodegradable and end up piling up as waste, damaging the environment and degrading the ecosystem. That is not to say that we do not require plastics in our lives; in fact, plastics are highly important to our lives and cannot be fully eliminated. Plastics are particularly important in the medical industry for manufacturing life-saving medical devices, appropriately packaging food to ensure good sanitation, making containers for safe drinking water, and making insulators.
Plastic pollution endangers both humans and animals. Plastics stay in the environment for a long time, and the majority of them end up in the oceans. According to studies, more than 80% of marine waste originates on land. Animals may consume plastics, which can block their digestive systems and cause death. Plastics dumped in the water bodies have killed deep-sea creatures. This is primarily due to starvation and entanglement. Plastics are mistaken for food by sea creatures, starving them to death. Plastic debris, such as fishing nets, traps and kills the animals. Microplastics are easily ingested by people and can cause health issues. Toxic chemical substances found in plastics have the potential to cause cancer and other health issues. Plastic waste clogs gutters and water drains, exacerbating the flooding problem.
While it is nearly impossible to imagine a world without plastic, the solution rests in how we produce and dispose of plastic garbage. Although there is no single solution to these issues, some interventions can be beneficial. We have the option of educating, eliminating, recycling, reducing, or reusing. Raising public awareness about the problem is critical if we are to reduce plastic pollution. People should be encouraged to take personal responsibility for how they manage plastics in their homes. If you must use plastic, how about reducing your consumption? What if we only used plastic materials when absolutely necessary?
Plastic recycling is one of the most popular solutions to the plastic problem. Recycling is the process of converting plastics into other materials. Most plastics are not recycled, according to statistics, with the current global rate standing at 9%. According to Forbes, Ghana’s recycling rate is only 5%. The Ghanaian ministry of environment, science, technology, and innovation recognizes the environmental concern posed by plastic pollution. Attempts have been made to develop a plastic waste management system in order to clean the environment and recycle plastic waste. The government of Ghana can learn from their counterparts’ successes in imposing a total or partial ban on plastics and implement comparable measures.
Plastic pollution calls for global efforts to address the problem. Although the damage has already been done, it is not too late to act. At the moment, there is no silver bullet solution to this problem but rather a combination of efforts and interventions. It is time to restrict the production of single-use plastic materials and create working waste recycling systems. Governments should come up with measures that deliberately address this issue. Nations need to invest in affordable recycling programs that encourage recycling practices. At an individual level, we need to monitor and control our plastic footprint. If measures are not put in place, the consequences are dire. Our economies need to move from being plastic-dependent to being more environmentally sustainable. We have no choice but to deal with the plastic problem, or the problem will deal with us.
