Plastic pollution is currently one of the biggest environmental and health concerns more especially due to the increased production and use of single – use plastics. Plastics are synthetic materials made from a wide range of organic polymers such as polythene that are molded into shape while soft and then set into a rigid or slightly elastic form. The manufacture of plastics has increased over the years from 2 million metric tons in 1950 to 380 million metric tons in 2015. It is thus estimated that plastic production will continue to grow at 3.5 percent per year from 2030 through 2050.
Plastic products are toxic to both environment and human life when not managed properly. For instance, the commonest methods of plastic waste disposal in Uganda are open burning which releases dangerous fumes into the atmosphere and land filling as well as the indiscriminate dumping at the road sides which result into clogging of mainly water channels once it rains. In addition, plastic products such as single use plastics have ignorantly continued to be misused by most households and restaurants in Uganda to light charcoal or firewood stoves as well as covering or wrapping food stuffs during cooking and packaging some takeaways, which vice exposes the human health to toxic chemicals found in these plastics.
It is observed that only around 4% (128) of 3,200 chemicals of potential concern in plastics are currently regulated and 6,000 chemicals used in plastics lack hazard data. Certain polymers and chemicals used in plastics (such as softeners or colourants) have long term adverse effects on human health and the environment and/or create barriers for the recycling of plastic waste.(https://hactoendplasticpollution.org/plastics-treaty-and-the-brs-cops/. Most plastics and their additives have therefore been classified as cancer causing, brain retardants, reproductive malformations, hormone and endocrine disruptors etc.
Uganda does not process plastic raw materials instead depends on the importation of already made resins mainly from India, United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia. Due to lack of transparency about the hazardous aspects of the chemicals in the plastic raw materials, it has always been a challenge to ascertain whether the chemical constituents embedded in these plastic raw materials are of concern which continues to pose a risk to both human health and the environment.
Plastics and their chemical pollution have been recognized to be a global problem that needs to be urgently addressed. As you may be aware, the fifth session of the United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA-5) in March 2, 2022 adopted a resolution (5/14) to pave way for the establishment of an International legally binding instrument to end plastic pollution by 2025. The plastics Treaty is seen to provide opportunities for Member States and stakeholders to eliminate and restrict plastic polymers and chemicals of concern. To this effect, producers and importers of chemicals and polymers of plastics will be required to provide to government authorities complete information (transparency) about the hazards to human health or the environment associated with the relevant chemical, polymer or product, and related implications for their safe use, recyclability and disposal. https://www.foodpackagingforum.org/news/un-publishes-plastics-treaty-zero-draft. Such a measure therefore, will give direction to governments like Uganda the obligation to totally restrict, or regulate the importation of hazardous plastic polymers and chemicals of concern.
However, it is a well known fact that Government of Uganda has made five different occasions in attempt to ban the manufacture, importation, trade and use of single-use carrier bags and plastic bags bellow 30 microns, but the implementation of the ban has not been effective. The ban was first announced in 2007 and further announcements followed in 2009, 2015, 2018 and in 2021, Government renewed its commitment to enforce the ban but the implementation has not been effective due to;
- The formidable influence of the plastic industry,
- inadequately enforced plastic bag legislation,
- Resistance from various stakeholders.
In light of these challenges, it is evident that addressing the issue of plastic and their chemicals pollution in Uganda demands a comprehensive and collaborative approach. Governments (both national and international), industry, civil society, and the public must come together to find sustainable solutions that not only reduce the environmental and health impacts of plastics but also address the economic and social dimensions of this complex problem.
In order to achieve the above mentioned therefore, BiVA feels that there is need to;
- Support the ongoing development processes of the legally binding plastic treaty more especially on the inclusion of a comprehensive transparency and labeling mechanism that fulfilling the right to information relative to human health and the environment associated with the relevant polymers and chemicals in the plastic raw materials;
- Prevent toxic recycling and increase transparency of chemical products throughout the life cycle of plastics;
- Formulate, strengthen and enforce policies/ regulations that restrict the importation and use of plastic raw materials that contain hazardous plastic polymers and chemicals;
- Promote education, awareness and sensitization of the general public about the chemical hazards in plastics;
- Increase stakeholders’ engagements and collaboration in decision-making at all levels;
- Explore and develop suitable alternatives to plastic use.
As we move forward, let us remain committed to finding and supporting innovative strategies, fostering cooperation, supporting awareness and education programs on the importance of responsible plastic use. Only through collective action can we hope to overcome these obstacles and safeguard our environment for future generations.
