WED: NCF Tackles Plastic Pollution With Eco

Date:

June 07, (THEWILL) – As the world continues to battle a global disaster of plastic pollution, the Nigerian Conservation Foundation (NCF), the foremost environmental NGO in Nigeria, is ready to provide practical solutions to the menace.

Through simple and adaptable eco-friendly strategies, NCF is making frantic efforts to find ways of arresting the growing menace of plastic pollution, as it commemorates the World Environment Day (WED), in June 2023.

Speaking on their strategy to tackle plastic pollution, the NCF Communication Manager, Oladapo Soneye, said the United Nations, through UNEP, is using this year's theme to make a clarion call on people all over the world to end plastic pollution.

According to Soneye, "Around the world, one million plastic bottles are purchased every minute, while up to five trillion plastic bags are used worldwide every year."

In total, Soneye noted that half of the plastic produced is designed for single use purposes (used just once and thrown away).

He said, "NCF joins the rest of the world to mark the 2023 WED through days of activities lined up to educate people and propose practical solutions to plastic pollution. Some of the major proposed activities include School Recycling Initiative; Beach/Community Clean-up; and Upcycling. These would be done with the aim of protecting our environment by limiting the volume of plastics going into our landfills and promoting environmental education among young Nigerians.

"At the initial stage, some schools will be adopted in Lagos State for the school recycling initiative. Schools are stakeholders in championing environmental sustainability in their community, they help inspire passion in children and can help reinforce the message of conservation to children. Hands-on activity such as recycling helps drastically reduce the volume of plastics in their community while also building environmentally concerned generation. There will be provision of giant sorting bins for plastic collection generated both in the school and neighborhood, regular pick-up of recyclables will be done and equivalent amount from the pick-up donated to the schools for purchase of school supplies.

"School recycling will inspire students to care about the planet. Students who participate in the recycling activity knowing fully well the benefits and opportunities recycling provide will carry on this habit as adults. Schools will be motivated as the activity will provide little incentive for school supplies.While on the other hand, Upcycling is the process of transforming waste materials into useful items. The adopted schools will be visited and taught how to transform plastic wastes into useful items. This is a form of empowerment programme for the school children, teachers and volunteers as the items can provide a source of income when sold."

Soneye also pointed out that the Beach/Community Clean-up as an activity is a relatively easy and fun way to help tackle plastic pollution, adding that he most direct impact they have is that they serve as awareness tool about plastic pollution.

"The more people attend the clean-up, the more environmentally conscious they become, knowing fully well that their plastic waste if not disposed properly ends up in water bodies and causing harm to aquatic wildlife", he said.

According to UNEP report, Nigeria is estimated to generate about 2.5 million tonnes of plastic waste annually. Meanwhile in Lagos State, plastic accounts for 15% of the total waste generated. The situation is likely to worsen as Nigeria's population grows, from more than 220 million people now to an expected over 400 million by the end of 2050, and the production/need for plastic is also growing.

Plastic wastes such as PET bottles, plastic bags, disposable plates and spoons, straws etc. are found around us, blocking drainage systems, causing flooding during the rainy seasons, and providing good breeding ground for mosquitoes.

Plastic debris finds their way from the land into the ocean through activities like urban and storm-water runoff, littering, improper waste management and disposal, industrial activities, construction, and illegal dumping. Marine species ingest or are entangled by plastic debris, which causes severe injuries and death.

Speaking on the issue of plastic pollution, Director General of NCF, Dr. Joseph Onoja, said, "There must be a systemic change to stop the flow of plastic waste ending up in our environment. Out of the 7 billion tonnes of plastic waste generated globally so far, less than 10% has been recycled. Plastic waste, whether in a river, the ocean or on land can persist in the environment for centuries. Most plastic items are not degradable as they rather break down into smaller particles called micro-plastics which recent studies have found in human lungs, livers, and kidneys.

World Environment Day is the biggest international day for the environment, led by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), and held annually since 1973. The theme for 2023 WED is "Solutions to Plastic Pollution".

it has grown to be the largest global platform for environmental outreach and It is celebrated by millions of people across the world.

WED is used to encourage worldwide awareness and action for the protection of the environment on 5th June, every year, in over 100 countries.