As environment-conscious people and nations all over the globe observe this year’s World Environment Day last Monday, with focus on Ecosystem Restoration, under the campaign #BeatPlasticPollution, the African Indigenous Foundation for Energy and Sustainable Development (AIFES) joined the campaign, calling on people around the world to be more sensitive and commit themselves to stopping the damaging effects of plastic wastes to the environment.
That was the statement by the African Indigenous Foundation for Energy and Sustainable Development on the occasion of the just-concluded World Environment Day celebration in Port Harcourt.
This was contained in a press release made available to news men in Port Harcourt.
According to the release, signed by Legborsi Saro Pyagbara, the Executive Director of the foundation, a copy made available to news men in Port Harcourt, the foundation regretted the fast and unabated destruction and indiscriminate activities of users of plastic waste.
“AIFES, is worried by the fast and unabated destructive and indiscriminate activities of users of plastic materials on the ecosystem, particularly the drains, streams, rivers, other water bodies, and the careless disposal of these materials in other undesignated areas in the neighbourhoods”, the statement said.
According to the foundation, the celebration should be used to advocate strict compliance to regulatory Provisions and laws for bagging of all domestic and industrial wastes, recycling of used plastic materials and a stop to dumping of malleable items in the drains and other water ways.
“While the use of plastics cannot be avoided at homes, offices and public places, it is important that citizens, particularly users, make conscious efforts to properly dispose them after use, considering the hazards and challenges they constitute to the environment and activities of other people.
It further said, “Most worrisome is the indiscriminate dumping of these plastics in the drains and most water ways, which causes blockage, resulting to flooding and filthiness of the environment.
“Aquatic life is threatened as mangrove vegetation is destroyed, fishes are exterminated and water bodies polluted.
“Having suffered the hazards overwhelmingly, we believe this year’s World Environment Day affords us the opportunity not only to draw global attention to the plights of our people living at the water fronts and in the coastal communities contending with the invading plastic flood.
“We, therefore, call on government agencies and companies to provide receptacles and polyethylene bags for the citizens to use at homes, in the offices, streets, public places and neighborhoods.
“It is also imperative that measures be put in place by the government to prevent and checkmate the wrongful use and disposal of these plastics by both corporate and individual citizens.
“We propose the setting up of monitoring agents and special marshals for community surveillance and information on the indiscriminate use of the materials by households, business operators and other corporate bodies”.
It also called on the Federal and sub-national governments to establish functional recycling plants for plastic wastes and engage scavengers to pick up the waste materials from the streets and public places.
“Neighbourhood sanitation agents should also be commissioned in all Local Government Areas, while the State Sanitation Authority be empowered to properly execute laws prohibiting indiscriminate dumping of waste without exception.
“It is our conviction that if the above measures are taken appropriately, there will be drastic reduction in not only plastic pollution, but harmful practices in wastes generation, handling and disposal.
The use of fungal enzymes like hydrolases and oxidoreductases in plastic biodegradation is also recommended.

By: John Bibor