Director of Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation at the Ministry of Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation (MESTI), Lydia Essuah has revealed that government is adopting a policy that would compel manufacturing companies to produce plastics that are reusable, durable and recyclable.

According to her, the policy is derived from an economic model called “Circular Economy” which ensures that priority is given to factors such as durability, re-usability and re-cyclability at the point of manufacturing.

“Every country is moving along the principle of circular economy and it is against the backdrop that our national resources are very finite. If we continue to use them to produce products and then dispose of them, ultimately, our resources will be finished and then we will not have any natural resources to live on. So this new economic model of circular economy is to ensure that right from the design of products, manufacturers think about three key things which is the durability of the product that is coming to the market, the fact that the product should be reusable and also the fact that the product should be recyclable,” she said.

Having hinted of a new way of producing plastics products, the director noted that the policy direction is to gradually introduce a ban on such products, saying “we should be able to carry the citizenry and private sector along.” She stressed that the said products are manufactured by companies who are creating jobs for people and have factories and machines, therefore a ban cannot be introduced suddenly. 

She explained that the ministry is working to ensure a collaboration between the public and private sectors in arriving at a decision to “rollout the banning of plastics.”

Ms Essuah earlier revealed that about 17% of domestic waste is plastics and that less than 10% of plastic wastes generated in the country are recycled.

A recent documentary by JoyNews revealed the magnitude of plastic pollution that has characterised the various towns; from open streets to almost every single gutter.

Interviewing of passersby also show that a majority of people prefer using plastic products especially plastic bottles to glass bottles.

Inappropriate waste management had led to series of poor environmental conditions during raining seasons, in that drainages become chocked and consequently result into flooding and an enormous breed of mosquitoes. 

In an attempt to curb the growing environmental crisis, the Greater Accra Regional Coordinating Council under the Greater Accra Regional Minister, Henry Quartey embarked on an initiative called “Operation clean your frontage.” This is to make it obligatory for all individuals and corporate entities to be responsible for the cleaning and greening of their immediate surroundings.

In spite of the effort which also seeks to make Accra one of the cleanest cities in Africa as envisioned by  President Akufo-Addo, plastic wastes mismanagement seems to be on the rise.

Miss Essuah noted that the ministry is establishing partnership with other private bodies in establishing plastic waste collection avenues in order to recycle plastic wastes.