Environmentalists call for outright ban on plastics in Africa

Six Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) in Africa have called for an outright ban on plastics in the continent, saying it is possible if stakeholders play their roles.

 
This is the outcome of a webinar hosted by Community Development Advocacy Foundation (CODAF), in collaboration with Environmental Defenders Network (EDEN), Renevlyn Development Initiative (RDI), Global Initiative for Environment and Reconciliation (Rwanda), Sustainable Research and Action for Environmental Development (SRADev Nigeria) and Centre for Earth Works (CfEW).
  
In her presentation, ‘Plastic Ban in Rwanda’, Emelyne Ituze, said: “Everyone, including government, security officials, civil society and the population in general needs to play their part. Of course, there is a need of strictness, but it is simply a matter of changing our habits and choosing sustainable alternatives that won’t cost the earth.
  
“Together, we can beat plastic pollution and protect our health, and that of generations to come. Plastics are polluting our planet and choking our ocean, harming human health and damaging ecosystems vital to our livelihoods.”

In his introduction, Executive Director of RDI, Philip Jakpor, noted that plastic was created by Sten Gustaf Thulin in 1959 to be used and reused compared to using paper bags. He added that then no one envisaged they would become a major challenge to man and the environment.
  
Director of Campaigns and Administration at CODAF, Maimoni Ubrei-Joe, said the plastics problem was a significant global environmental issue with vast implication for ecosystems, human health, and economies.
  
“In Nigeria, the issue is aggravated by inadequate waste management infrastructure and growing consumption patterns. Tackling this challenge requires coordinated efforts at the local, national, and international levels, including better waste management practices, stronger regulations, and increased public awareness,” he added.
  
Executive Director of SRADev Nigeria, Leslie Adogame, asserted that the world was in a plastic regime, as the environment had been overtaken by its impact.
Advocating a ban on the single-use of plastics, he urged controlled production of total plastic materials in which companies involved in the production must be held to account.
  
“We have abused plastics since 1945, when we began production. It is, however, more complex for us in Nigeria because we are an oil-producer and have access to polymax, which is a byproduct of fossil fuels, the raw materials used in the production of plastics. Recycling these products is only a false solution, as only nine percent of plastic produced is recyclable,” he stated.
 
Proffering solutions, Executive Director of EDEN, Chima Williams, urged a return to nature, stressing that “nature provides everything a man needs to survive, but our greed and need for sophistication were what brought us to the level we are.”