Plastic
bags have been used for industrial and household packaging for decades. Plastic bags availability will have
significant impact to the environment in days to come. In industries plastic
bags have formed the core of packaging for the household consumable items. Shopping
malls, retail shops and supermarkets are the main distributors of the plastics
bags to the end users. The growth of this sector can be attributed to their
durability, malleability light in weight and low cost. Its estimated that by
2050 there will be 12000 million tons of plastic waste accumulation if no
action is taken. In 2016 Kenya enacted law regulating production, use and
disposal of plastic bags, however plastics bags have found their way back to
the market.
Dark
site of plastics, this year’s World Environment Day celebration has
been coined to address the plastics related menace. Dabbed “solutions to
plastics pollution”, the focus is mainly
revisiting the entire plastic value chain in efforts to address perennial
menace emanating from their disposal.
Non-Biodegradable
Nature of Plastic Bags as Soil Contaminants. Once in the soil, plastic
bags eventually breakdown realising toxic chemicals with affect soil pH. This
leads to reduction of soil productivity. According to the interactive soil
quality assessment report 2018, more than 80% of plastics found on marine
environments are produced, consumed and disposed of in soils. Sewage sludge contributes
to percolation of microplastics in soil. This happens through application of
municipal wastewater treatment plants as fertilizers in agricultural lands.
Plastic bags can also lead to soil infertility by tempering with moisture and
nutrition supplies for the crops resulting to reduced yield
Plastic Bags
Damaging the Environment. Plastic
bags are directly associated with numerous dangers to the Environment. Terrestrial
and aquatic animals suffer due to presence of plastic bags in their food
chains. Cows have had significant deaths due to presence of plastic bags in
their grazing fields. Once an animal swallow’s plastic bag, it causes
intestinal obstruction which leads to slow death. The poisoning emanates from chemical
components making up the plastic bags. Plastics don’t readily break down while
in the animals’ digestive track, this makes the animal feel full and eventually
they succumb to malnutrition or starvation.
Clogging of water and
sewerage systems. Once deposited to the environment, plastic bags
find their way to the water supply and drainage systems whereby the clog the
supply leading to disconnection of utility supplies and pollution. Their
removal is costly in both time and monetary value. Sewage blockage escalates to
health threat as other diseases associated with poor sewage disposal crops up.
Aesthetic defloration
of the Environment. Poorly disposed plastic bags create unpleasant
scenery. They act as breeding ground for disease transmitting insect such as
mosquito as water accumulates in the inside the bags. A vast majority of
residents both from urban and rural areas would agree that plastic debris ruin
the appearance of habitats.
Conclusion
Despite
pollution associated with plastics, if well harnessed,
they can offer much need job opportunities while reducing climate change
associated effects. Through circular economy, plastics have been recycled to
provide much needed alternative fencing and furniture to the rescue of our
forests. Initiatives such as International Coastal Clean-up held annually have
seen Beach Management Unit reap benefits of maintaining clean terrestrial and
marine ecosystems through selling plastic waste to recycling firms. Clean natural habitats and green spaces help reduce
recovery time and improve healing period of hospital patients. Such environment
sustains children concentration and focus, either they reduce crime rates.
However, if the environments are littered with plastic bags and other
unpleasant debris, these benefits are highly reduced. With right legislative
frameworks and governance, plastics has potential to offer much needed
solutions to humanity without resultant pollution menace, this is achievable
through partnerships and synergy from all stakeholders.
Andrew Muendo Nyamu
Young African Leaders Initiative alumni (cohort 24)
Project Coordinator, National Church Council of Kenya (NCCK)
Email: nyamu1895@gmail.com
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