The Federation of Plastic Manufacturers, Recyclers and Users – Ghana in conjunction with the World Plastics Council will from 18 – 20 June, 2019 hold a conference on effective plastic management.
The programme which is under theme “West Africa unites for a Clean, Healthy and Productive Marine Ecosystem will be held at the Ghana – India Kofi Annan Center of Excellence in ICT, Accra.
The event which is dubbed “TALKPLAST 2019” seeks to deepen awareness of the plastic menace and the need for concerted, coordinated and innovative responses from national, civic institutions within the sub-region and from all stakeholders.
Speaking at the press launch for “TALKPLAST 2019”, Director for Policy and Sustainability at the Federation of Plastic Manufacturers, Recyclers and Users – Ghana, Daniel Yaw Mensah Tornyigah outlined some of the other objectives of the programme.
“The conference will seek to develop a workable plan implementable with support from stakeholders and waste management, recyclers and policy makers within the sub-region. We will create the Education Resource Book plan that will be a guide for schools, universities, municipalities, industry, tourism and industry. It will foster environmental ethics and promote positive behaviour change.”
“TALKPLAST 2019 will create a workable system within communities to understand the value of waste by creating economic incentives and entrepreneurial opportunities. It will harness the circular economy which will create jobs, reduce poverty and help clean the environment.”
“The communications program will open up an active platform for education, collaboration, and resource- and knowledge-sharing to encourage stakeholders to develop and implement better waste-management strategies in order to improve human health, prosperity and protect the environment.”
Meanwhile the Director for Policy and Sustainability at the Federation of Plastic Manufacturers, Recyclers and Users – Ghana has bemoaned the non existence of effective plastic management system in the country. This according to him will have dire consequences on aquatic life in the country hence the need for a holistic approach in tackling the plastic menace.
“Waste streams in Ghana and across West Africa are currently dominated by plastic wastes and this is primarily because of the widespread use of plastic products across sectors. The current lack of focus on recycling of plastic products and the exiting lack of plastic waste management mechanisms has created a situation where plastic waste, like other solid waste materials is discarded indiscriminately. The ocean, unfortunately, has become a final disposal site for plastic and has come with negative consequences for marine ecosystems.”
“Fish stock has declined leading to a recent closed season fishing policy in Ghana. Other marine organisms have also come under threat as a result of marine litter. Emerging research suggests the likelihood of the ocean containing more plastics, micro-plastics and other waste streams than fish by 2050.”
“This is dire and requires urgent and proactive actions and it is against this background that The Federation, as part of its mission, has been collaborating with state institutions and the private sector to put in place intervention measures that will address the situation.”
Mr. Mensah Tornyigah also decried the delay by government to disburse the accrued funds in the Environmental Excise Tax adding that “the challenge of sustainable plastic waste management remains pervasive to say the least.”
“The current government’s lack of focus in promoting effective recycling in Ghana as a flagship priority area, the lack of implementation and the existing sanitation Bye-laws, as well as the strengthening of existing waste management mechanisms and the non-operationalization of the Environmental Excise Tax (EET) Customs Excise Amendment 2013 (Act 863) positions the nation as loosers before the waste management and indiscriminate littering battle begins.”
“Should the citizenry assume that Government, Municipal and Metropilitant Assemblies do not have the requisit teeth to bit after having all the bye-laws that should deter bad waste behavious? The question is, why is government unable to operationalized the other sections of the Environmental Excise Tax(Act 863) which was signed into Law in 2013.”
He also stressed that “plastic waste management and marine litter have become global issues that have received attention at different levels. In Ghana, as in most of Africa, the challenge seems to be getting worse as the culture of plastic product patronage increases by the day without a corresponding waste management mechanism. The consequence is what we see in our communities, drains etc. and perhaps more worryingly, the oceans becoming a default destination for plastic waste disposal.”
The Director for Policy and Sustainability at the Federation of Plastic Manufacturers, Recyclers and Users – Ghana said “even though various attempts and efforts have been put together by different entities including the government to explore solutions, not a lot has been achieved. This has brought a lot of focus on key players such as Plastic Manufacturers, Users, Brand-owners etc., and the call has been on them to lead a crusade to halt this menace.
“There have been incessant public outcry and agitation to ban the use of plastics and in all instances key players in the sector have come under attack especially when the plastic waste menace is linked to the current poor sanitation conditions in most communities.”
He also indicated that “these agitations have prompted government to consider a policy on a ban on plastics in Ghana. While the policy debate continues the imperative remains to explore alternatives and more importantly to put in place sustainable waste management practices that would ensure a litter-free marine environment.”
“Such an approach gained currency at the just ended United Nations Environmental Assembly (UNEA4) meeting of the United Nations Environmental Program in Nairobi, Kenya, where Member States and diverse actors at local, national, regional and international levels were tasked to adopt new and innovative approaches to halting the problem of marine litter and micro-plastics.”
He expressed unflinching assistance by his outfit to collaborate with other like-minded organizations to help in the fight against plastic menace both in the country and across the West African Sub-Region.”
“The Federation of Plastic Manufacturers Recyclers and Users, Ghana (FePMRUG) supports this position and remains fully committed to working with all stakeholders in Ghana and beyond to explore proactive, sustainable and cost-effective solutions.”
“The Plastic federation sees the problem as a global problem with local, national, and regional dimensions. We therefore remain determined and committed to engage partners and stakeholders from known plastic polluting countries such as Nigeria, South Africa, Egypt, Algeria, Angola, Morocco, Sudan, Tunisia and Kenya to explore lasting solutions in a coordinated way.”
Story by: Henry George Martinson/Radiogoldlive.com
