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In many African countries, including Ghana and around the world, plastics play a very important role in people’s economic lives due to their durability, portability, and affordability. Plastics play an important role in the transportation of indigenous Ghanaian products. Indigenous food products such as ” waakye ” ” kenkey ” are no exception.
However, these polyethylene bags are single use, on average these plastics can only be used for up to one hour, but they live with us in the environment (landfills) for decades of years.
The sad reality in Ghana is that most of the plastics we use are not biodegradable and end up in landfills (which are not effectively regulated), sewers or bodies of water. World Bank reports indicate that Africa produces almost 70 million tons of waste each year. It is believed that as the poorest people move to middle class status, there will be pressure on plastic consumption and the resulting effect will lead to more waste generation.
The amount of waste generated is expected to increase exponentially as more urban centers emerge. Most companies in Ghana focus more on their profit margins regardless of the environment in which their companies operate. Giving equal attention and prominence to the environment will lead to a green economy.
The green economy will also ensure sustainability. A classic example of adopting a circular economy is where the Philippines gives its massive plastic waste a second life by using recycled plastics to make cement and build roads. This dramatically minimizes the plastic garbage found in landfills and drains. Taking this circular economy approach in Ghana would save the nation from accompanying problems, such as perennial flooding after a heavy downpour due to plastic waste sewers and other drainage systems.
• Governments that generate revenue from plastic waste through environmental policies
Governments around the world generate revenue from polythene bags as a way to control plastic waste. UK countries, including Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, introduced the “ carry bag levy ”. This forces consumers to send their own poly bags from their homes to stores or to use bags that have a longer shelf life to avoid paying a fee for a bag. Wales began charging 5 cents for plastic bags in 2011, resulting in a 71% reduction in plastic waste generated. 80% of the income generated by the fee goes to charity, while 20% goes to the government treasury (ec.europa.eu). Italy also has a law that states that polyethylene bags produced for commercial use must indicate what they are made of and how they can be reused or recycled (reusebags.gov.uk/carrier-bags).
In Ghana, black poly bags are normally delivered for free in most stores after purchasing items, which is definitely not the case elsewhere. Can the government of Ghana adopt and implement the ” carry bag fee ” as a way to generate income and minimize plastic waste?
Assuming 10 Gp is put into each polybag / carry bag and 30 million Ghanaians use it daily, approximately 3 million GHC revenue generated will accumulate in government coffers. These accumulated revenues (generated annually / quarterly) will help meet the numerous government projects, such as road construction, drinking water supply, among others. South Africa adopts the use of a mobile van called “Packa-Ching”.
This van travels through low-income countries to buy plastic waste, metal cans and paper. The van pays for this waste where the money is sent to an electronic wallet payment system called eVoucher.Mobi. Research shows that in recycling, the difference between countries’ performance can be seen in economic fortunes as they embrace a circular economy alongside consistent recycling and recovery activities. The efficiency analysis was seen rather in the improvement of economic fortunes (Robaina, 2020).
• Adoption of environmental policy instruments in Ghana
Environmental policy instruments help mitigate the impacts that companies have on the environment by collaborating with government actions. Few of these environmental policy instruments include;
o Polluter pays principle: this is a widely accepted practice in most European countries that consists of making those who pollute pay the cost of managing the damage they cause to save the environment and human health. But my question is how effectively can this principle be applied here in Ghana? Taking as an example the companies that produce water in bags would imply that they should be charged for the amount of waste they generate annually (through information from the waste companies).
o Producer responsibility: Due to the increasing waste generated, governments around the world have resorted to making producers of goods face responsibility for their products from the beginning to the end of their life (post-consumer stage). It then provides incentives to the producer in an attempt to minimize waste and rather to encourage producers to practice a circular economy approach through product design / recycling.
This approach minimizes the impacts companies have on the environment, as products can be repaired, recycled and reused over and over again, and not the “cradle to grave” approach, but a “cradle-to-cradle approach. to the cradle “. .
o The role of the Ghanaian media in educating the masses
The media has an important role to play in positively influencing the vast majority of Ghanaians to be environmentally responsible. There could be flagship media programs on the environment that will deliberately focus on improving sanitation issues and our roles as citizens. Programs in reference to the Environment.
For example, ” Time with our environment ” ” Going / Living Green ” ” Ecoeducation ”, where environmental experts would be invited to provide alternatives to make our beloved country cleaner and healthier.
Personally, I refer to individual citizen responsibilities towards the environment as “Consumer Responsibilities”, where tipping would be discouraged.
Thank you!
REFERENCES / ADDITIONAL READINGS
• Jiao, C. (2020). “The Philippines is making roads and cement out of plastic garbage.” Source: Bloomberg.com. Retrieved October 9, 2020.
• Racapé, C. (2019). ” Plastic waste: a new currency in low-income countries ”. Obtained from: gsma.com. October 12, 2020
• Robaina, M. Murillo, K. Rocha, E. and Villar, J. (2020). “Circular economy in the analysis of the efficiency of plastic waste in European countries”. 730: 139038
For clarification and consulting services you can contact the author through [email protected] By Richard K. Asare (Dela)
