Hendrix Oliomogbe
An estimated 50-60 million used sachets are thrown into the streets of Lagos daily, according to a research by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), the executive director of Foundation for Earth Rights Assembly, (FERA), Mr. Nosa Tokunbor has disclosed.
Mr. Tokunbor, who spoke at a press briefing as part of activities to commemorate this year World Environment Day lamented that with a total annual plastic waste of about 1.5 million metric tonnes in Nigeria, plastic pollution is one of the greatest environmental challenges of the 21st century, causing wide-ranging damage to ecosystems and human health.
He said that less than 12% of plastic waste is recycled in Nigeria, going by figures released by the West African Coastal Areas Management Programme, (7⁷WACA) in a report commissioned by the World Bank.
Mr. Tokunbor said that three of the 20 top plastics polluting rivers in the world are located in Nigeria, noting however that the country is making headway in regulating plastic pollution, passing laws on plastic waste management and extended producer responsibility, requirements, with a ban on plastic bags currently in works.
He added: “Plastic pollution has been a rising global concern, with increasing plastic consumption every year. Plastics are now omnipresent in our daily lives. We find plastics in lakes, rivers and oceans.
The executive director said that on a global level, plastics have displaced many traditional materials, such as wood, stone, horn and bone, leather, paper, metal, glass, and ceramic, as they are used in almost every segment of life – from everyday life to industrial applications.
The environmentalist said that global plastics used are projected to grow considerably over the next four decades to reach more than 1.2 billion metric tons by 2060.
He disclosed that a global meeting scheduled for August in the Republic of Korea, is geared towards mobilizing communities across the world to implement and advocate for solutions in form of a global treaty to end plastic pollution, including in the marine environment.
He noted that ridding the planet of plastic pollution is an important contribution to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals, including those on climate action, sustainable production and consumption, protection of seas and oceans and repairing ecosystems and retaining biodiversity.
He emphasized: “Plastic pollution permeates every corner of the planet- even in our bodies in the form of microplastics. The campaign will encourage individuals, organizations, industries, and governments to adopt sustainable practices that drive systemic change.
“By now we are painfully aware that plastic waste poses a threat to our environment, including both marine and terrestrial ecosystems. Pollution touches all parts of the Earth.
“As consumption and production intensify, pollution is becoming more extensive, pervasive and persistent. It damages ecosystems, and affects human health through the food we eat, the water we drink and the air we breathe
As a way out, the environmental activist called for a combination of investments in innovation and interventions aimed at increasing demand for circular solutions while restraining plastic consumption overall.
Other recommendations include, creating incentives for recycling and enhance sorting at source, extending producer responsibility (EPR) schemes, landfill taxes and incineration taxes, as well as deposit-refund and pay-as-you-throw schemes among others.
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