WED:Activists Task Govt On Plastic Pollution, Synophom Ban

Civil societies and environmental rights activists have tasked governments across the country to find solutions to the issue of plastic pollution.
They also called on  Rivers state and other state governments in the country to ban syrophom as was done in Lagos.
The activists said this while reacting to the theme of the just concluded World Earth Day celebration which held across the world last Monday 22 April,2024.
The theme for this year’s celebration  was”Planet vs Plastic”. According to information on the website of the United Nations Environment Programm( UNEP),  380 million tonnes of plastic are now produced every year,while only 9 percent of plastic ever produced has been recycled.
It was also found that over 5.25 trillion macro and micro process of plastic are lying on the ocean bed
It noted that “The Planet v Plastics campaign is a call to arms, a demand that we act now to end the scourge of plastic pollution
Environmental Right Activists said time has come for the government to either ensure an outright ban on plastic productions or seek for ways of recycling them.
It would be noted that the effects of plastic pollution is being felt by communities across the country
Recently, the Amadi-Ama Community in the Port Harcourt City Local Government Area of Rivers State raised alarm over the scourge of plastic pollution in its waterways.
According to the community, plastic pollution in its water ways has not only affected aquactic lives but has hampered communication including movement of vessels within its water ways.
Amadi -Ama Community is not alone in this, other communities have also raised concern.
In Port Harcourt and Obio-Akpor local government areas, dumping of plastic into drainages were largely blamed for the flooding withnessed annually in the city.
According to respondents ,plastics dumped into drainages by unscrupulous elements always block the free flow of water to the river, thereby causing flooding.
Meanwhile, some Environmental Right Activists have been speaking on the celebration.
According to some of them, solution to plastic pollution must be sought urgently by the Authorities
They urged governments at all levels to embark on a programmes of plastic recycling while also sensitising the public on the dangers associated with indiscriminate dumping of plastics into the environment including water ways.
She also decried the indiscriminate dumping of plastics by residents of Port Harcourt City and Obio Akpor, adding that it contributes to flooding being experienced in the city.
Meju said  the best way to dispose off plastics must be sought out.
Olatunji Olawapo of Sustainability and Climate Literacy particularly urged the Rivers State Government to ban syrophom,a plastic used by food vendors to wrap food for their customers.
He said syrophom does not decay adding it constitute a big environmental nuisance

Olawapo argued that  if Lagos State can banned it, there is no reason why Rivers state cannot do same.

Olawapo also urged for more sensitisation on the effects of plastic pollution the on the environment he said his organisation based in Eagle Island Port Harcourt has been doing a lot in the area of environmental sustainability.