Plastics recycling initiatives in African countries It is well documented that the marine environment is polluted by various types of anthropogenic marine debris. Unfortunately the same cannot be said for Africa as the issue of marine debris is underreported from the continent and surrounding seas compared to the developed countries. As African economies grow, the ills associated with such an expansion will also be felt. Marine debris is receiving limited attention in Africa and it is because of this lack of understanding and a unified plan to tackle the problem on the continent that a summit was held in Cape Town in 2013 to establish a network and work towards increased research and awareness raising of the issue as well as actions to reduce marine debris. Africa has 26 000 km of coastline. With its great lake areas and waterways as well as the islands in the Indian, Atlantic and Southern Atlantic Oceans, the continent can play an important role in reducing the amount of manmade material finding its way to the sea. South Africa, as the largest economy in Africa has started with various projects to combat the issue of marine debris. The recycling of waste material is pivotal in this was showcased during the summit. Plastics SA as the co-signatory of the Global Plastics Industry Marine Declaration on Marine Debris in partnership with UNEP is working towards establishing a network on the issue of Marine Debris with a special focus on the issue of plastics in the marine environment which forms the bulk of manmade material as part of marine debris. During the summit it was highlighted by delegates that plastics recycling are limited in their countries and that in some island countries, recycling of the plastic waste is totally ignored. Plastics recycling are one of the mechanisms to ensure that plastic does not find its way in to the environment and especially the marine environment where it can cause a myriad of damages. Plastics are one of the most disposable materials and makes up most of our street side litter found in cities around the world. Plastics are easy to recycle which is important as a lot of our landfills are filling up with plastics yet significant amounts of fossil fuels are required to manufacture new ones and recycling would preserve this fuels which can be reused elsewhere. Plastics are not biodegradable and burning plastics leads to the production of greenhouse gases which pollute the environment. Plastic recycling is growing in South Africa as it is entrenched in the National Waste Management Strategy and the National Environmental Management Act with the support of the whole plastics industry for sustainability. The plastics industry in South Africa sets an upward tonnage of manufactured material to be recycled every year and has shown in certain polymers great results. One of the findings from the summit was to share the recycling success in South Africa in the technologies and material that it is produces into. Plastics SA is the only plastics industry federation in Africa and as the economies in Africa grow we need to ensure that the mistakes of poor waste management is not repeated and that plastics as a major part of packaging and in other forms is recycled and does not become an environmental problem. To strengthen this network that is working towards increased monitoring, research and awareness of plastics pollution on the African continent and associated seas we need to establish a database of recycling efforts in Africa and the industry involved in producing plastic material on the continent. Plastic pollution in and around the African continent is growing as the economies grow and we need to start a dialogue regarding the issue similar as can be found in the Developed Economies of the world. (Benguela.org)
Posted on: Wed, 07 Aug 2013 09:55:49 +0000
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