Prevention Of Plastic Pollution

Today, plastic waste is increasing at the most alarming and shameful rate. A global disaster of plastic waste and bags is killing, virtually suffocating, all of our environments and torturing the ecosystems within them. Already, these ecosystems are at risk of future loss, and action must be taken to create a world free of plastic waste. Industrialists have the power to change the ways in which plastic is extracted/used and other plastic materials are wasted. Thus, the restoration of ecosystems: wildlife and oceans to a healthy state is a complete renewal of a world free from plastic waste: one of the measures to reduce plastic waste.

1. Reuse

Reusing is different from throwing them away after every use, in fact here it means using materials in their original form over time. This not only maximizes use for as long as possible but also minimizes waste. Reuse is increasingly recognized as playing a major role in efforts to address many social problems related to poverty, health and well-being. However, it needs to be conveyed to the public that reuse is not an issue of overall waste. This gives items a second chance to be useful. To some extent, this has resulted in reduced use of non-biodegradable plastic bags. Plastic items can be reused or used for various purposes such as bottled soft drinks after use, instead of throwing it away, processed into maize, guinea corn, millet etc. in Nigeria and other parts of the world. Used for bottling the product. Poor management of plastic can lead to pollution, although it also has some benefits. But still, humans have to think about how they can reuse plastic. People should bring reusable shopping and produce bags to the market, instead of single-use plastic bags. Use shopping bags and do not use plastic bags available. The results showed that most companies are selling reusable water bottles instead, reducing plastic waste and the risk of leaking bottles.

2. Reduce

Reduction in plastic pollution can go hand in hand with reduction in plastic use. It really brings about a change in the perception of using plastic daily at home or anywhere and encourages alternative use at a time when plastic cannot be avoided. Avoid plastic packaging. Nowadays, many stores sell items such as grains, nuts, beans and pasta without packaging. Instead, customers bring reusable bags or jars.

3. Recycle

Recycling plastics involves collecting as much waste as possible and reprocessing them into new products with the aim of reducing their presence in the waste stream. It is a well-known scripture that plastic does not dissolve easily. Therefore, to say that it is recycled would mean that it is still plastic but it is used for a completely different function. Recycling does not reduce any plastic – it continues to exist as plastic as it is recycled for another use. Therefore, recycling does not mean less amount of plastic; It just transforms. Recycling does not reduce the exposure and quantity of plastic. Plastic is a very useful material, but it is also essential to recycle plastic waste properly to ensure that it does not end up in the environment. Much work needs to be done in recycling as only less than 14% of plastic packaging is recycled. Therefore people should avoid plastic packing and should not buy water in plastic bottles.

4. Educate Businesses

Education is important in awareness and behavior or attitude change. People should be given guidance and advice on how to dispose of plastic so that incidents of plastic pollution can be prevented. Such as by advocating with operators/owners of local restaurants and businesses to inform them about the options they can choose for stocking, packaging items. Most companies are coming up with great low-cost replacements for plastic utensils like bamboo utensils. It is important to educate these operators of restaurants, event centers and businesses that they should refuse straws when customers ask for straws with beverages, beer and soft drinks such as Coca-Cola.

They should refuse customers using straws for beverages, soft drinks like beer and Coca-Cola etc. Instead of using plastic drinking straws, they can use glasses in bars, restaurants or event centers and ask customers to bring their own glasses, steel and bamboo straws.

The National Standards and Environmental Regulation Enforcement Agent has worked closely with FBRA and other manufacturers in fighting the plastic menace, according to its statements. Early pioneers of the alliance included Coca-Cola Nigeria Limited, Nigerian Bottling Company Limited (NBC), Nigerian Breweries PLC, Seven-Up Bottling Company Limited and Nestlé Nigeria Limited. FBRA is an international framework for action towards a collaborative and partnership approach with government, business and larger society to achieve a zero-waste society. The alliance is dedicated to ensuring through its educative and communication awareness programs, proper waste disposal, collection and recycling of packaging waste. The chair of the alliance, Mrs Sade Morgan, told the Guardian: FBRA is an industry-driven producers’ responsibility organisation; It is thus committed to achieving a scheme of collection of post-consumer polyethylene terephthalate (PET) bottles through accredited collectors and recyclers in Nigeria that is feasible and cost effective. He said: “The coalition has structured its interventions under three key headings. First: communication and advocacy interventions to educate people about the proper disposal of waste PET. Second: diverting post-consumer waste PET from the environment. Collecting through designated collectors and placing bins at strategic locations. Third: Partnering with recyclers or off-takers to convert collected PET into other uses such as energy, fiber and textiles.”

5. Government Intervention

Legislators and the state should wake up and get involved in the prevention of plastic pollution so as to create panic among the public, which will then lead to strict adherence towards preventive measures. Currently, campaigns and awareness about plastic pollution have spread across the world. Each government is devising its own individual measures to curb plastic waste. For example, the Belgian government recently entered into an agreement with Detik, a consortium of producers and distributors of cosmetics, cleaning and maintenance products, adhesives and sealants. Here, the government talks about completely replacing plastic microbeads in all cosmetics and rinse-off products for oral care by the end of 2019.

According to the UN Conference on Oceans 2019, member countries have agreed to phase out and reduce the use of plastics and microplastics in the long term. The European Union is preparing legislation to ban single-use plastics, and the issue of “plastic waste” is thrust into the spotlight by UN deliberations on World Environment Day 2018.

In fact, non-biodegradable plastic shopping bags are reorganizing Cameroon’s entire subsistence economy. Now, sellers and buyers of these non-biodegradable plastic shopping bags are expected to follow new rules that restrict/prevent the use of such bags, as the new rules found that thicker, more durable recyclable Promote the use of bags. According to Mrs. Shade Morgan, FBRA and Lagos State Government will jointly establish public awareness and advocacy towards proper packaging waste disposal systems. Additionally, the alliance has an action plan that includes collection of PET by identifying collectors for recovery and clearing of PET from roads, landfills and water bodies. In line with this call, the alliance is highly committed to drive-thru educative and communication change awareness programs on proper waste disposal, which will lead to creating effective systems for collection and recycling of packaging wastes. Morgan said such initiatives should be undertaken in partnership with federal and state governments, regulatory agencies, private collectors, recyclers and other relevant stakeholders.

Nigerian Bottling Company Limited (NBC) which is one of the leading manufacturing companies of plastic bottled products has disclosed that the country has a Post Consumer Packaging Waste Management Policy Statement, according to which it covers the collection and recycling of all packaging waste including PET. and all its activities are in accordance with it. NBC is taking steps for public awareness campaign, education on selective waste collection and anti-littering campaign. The melting of our environment is the real enemy of environmental pollution; Once this is exceeded, there will be beggars on our roads, drains and even waterways.

6. Use Of Oxo-Biodegradable Additive

By scientists around the world to provide some solutions through continuous research to the problems created by plastic materials – littering, blocking drainage systems and all other effects on marine life. Collaborative efforts are being made.

Of course, recycling has become possible through more and more technologies being developed in that direction, while some other efforts are being made in other areas including biodecomposing plastics. Small but helpful solution based on recent findings is just 1% OBD additive in manufacturing plastic material. This additive (OBD) causes any various plastic materials to biodegrade after a short period of time. OBD is already being used in many countries in Europe, Latin America, South Asia, the Middle East and Africa to fight the threat posed by plastics that escape collection and hence pollute the environment. The need for oxo biodegradable (OBD) plastics is really obvious. Every day thousands of tonnes of plastic escapes from garbage collection which goes into the world’s environment and remains there for decades unless treated with just 1% inclusion of oxo-biodegradable additive. Optimal, realistic and the best The alternative is to increase the infrastructure for collecting and recycling plastics, as well as mandating the use of oxo-biodegradable additives and further reducing the problem of plastic waste that escapes collection and Ultimately pollutes the country.

Some research findings and suggestions on plastic pollution

• Plastic bags and scraps thrown into the oceans have indeed placed a heavy burden on many marine creatures, leading to high mortality rates.

• More than 60% of the waste that ends up in landfills can be easily recycled.

• At least 1 million marine animals die every year due to plastic bags thrown into the oceans.

• Food safety and quality, health and coastal tourism as well as climate change are at risk due to plastic pollution.

• Within 30 minutes, Americans will consume more than two and a half million plastic bottles, most of which are wasted and not recycled.

• According to the findings, 90% of sea birds have some amount of plastic debris in their bodies.

• Plastic accounts for about 10 percent of all discarded waste.

• Research estimates that by the year 2050, there could be more plastic in the oceans than the weight of fish.

• The ten countries that contribute the most to global plastic pollution in the oceans, ranked from most to least, are: China, Indonesia, Philippines, Vietnam, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Egypt, Malaysia, Nigeria and Bangladesh.

Conclusion

Anything made of plastic will never break. In fact, plastic does not decompose, and it lasts for much longer years (up to 1,000 years) than anything else. Plastic is basically everywhere. The biggest factor is carelessness. One estimate suggests that 80 percent of marine litter comes from land. This plastic pollution primarily originates from household waste that is poorly recycled, thrown into various landfills, or released into nature. These wastes must be blown by the wind, carried by rain into sewers, drains, rivers, and ultimately reach the oceans. There should also be other considerations of natural disasters like floods which increase pollution.

Humans drink a lot of water every day to keep their body systems hydrated throughout the day. This is mainly achieved by carrying plastic water bottles, mainly because they are easier to carry. Most of them are for one-time use, meaning as soon as someone finishes the bottle, it goes straight into the trash. It would also be unfortunate today that all the highways are used by travelers and motorists, yet water and soft drinks filled in plastic bottles remain scattered on our roads most of the time. This green gold filled with plastic bottles is lying on both sides of the road, which the travelers throw randomly after use and ignore the ill effects of plastic bottles, they have to be got rid of.

Resin-based plastics manufacturers must change their practices and methods of operation. This is because consumers do not want the world to be destroyed in plastic waste. Hence there is a need to switch to recycled plastic. People are now encouraged or advised to reduce the number of plastic bags in their homes or purchasing items with excessive packaging. Contribute to the environment by reducing plastic pollution, which causes harm without any improvement. Use reusable bags instead of plastic bags. This paper advocates adopting the use of recycled plastics and contributing funds to clean up our world.

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