Ban production and use of polythene products

The production and use of polythene products in the country have become a bane on the environment and headache many a people who are concerned about the environment. In this era of global warming, we need not be told again that we have to do something in our own small way, in this country, to slow down the rate at which the world is becoming warmer. The production and use of polythene products such as the black polythene bags and water sachet, to me, is a menace in this country. Many of our gutters are chocked and this highly makes residential areas prone to flooding.

A visit to any rubbish dump sites or landfill site will reveal that about eighty percent (80%) of solid domestic waste dump there are made of these polythene products. This gives a clear picture of how greatly the nation produces and uses such products. The products are used daily for both commercial and household purposes. Nowadays, almost every thing bought in this country carried in black polythene back. It is no wonder, due to laziness, we have named it “take away”.

We have littered everywhere, including farmlands, with these polythene products. One thing I know is if these products will decay at all, they will take a very long time. I have heard it is non-degradable. If it is so, why have we with passion chosen to destroy the land we have? Something must be done now before the situation gets out of hand.

There is indiscriminate use of these products and the waste from them disposed off in ways unchecked by any law. The producers and buyers seem to be doing nothing about the negative effects of the products. For this reason the government must intervene to protect the environment and the people. Government must have the political will to act now or never. What I will suggest is an outright ban on the production, sales and use of the polythene products since, over the years, it appears nothing can be done in recycling the waste from the products. And every year the waste from the products keeps increasing.

I must be quick in admitting that when there is a ban on the product, it will create some sort of unemployment, and users need to adopt and adapt [to] the change, but a ban will be more beneficial than the economic problem; and short psychological adaptation we have to go through.

Until there is a way to purge the waste from these polythene products, what I think is the way forward is a ban and I hope public policy maker s must act now.

Source: Foster K. Huno
Kpando Konda.
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