| Drinking water sold in sachets or fast food | | | | European countries. With 'modernization' things |
| packed in takeaway bags may be a practical | | | | may get worse. It is interesting to note that the |
| option for the consumer in Ghana but the | | | | drinks industry is moving away from recycled |
| enormous problems caused by discarded plastic | | | | bottles in the name of 'progress.' Club Muscatella, |
| has for a long time outweighed its convenience. | | | | for example, is no longer available in redeemable |
| Plastic waste not only creates an eyesore in the | | | | glass and can only be purchased in throwaway |
| streets but also chokes drains, harbours disease | | | | plastic bottles or cans. |
| and threatens wildlife. Every year, the perennial | | | | This is not to say that the rubbish situation has |
| problem of flooding plagues towns and cities in | | | | not improved in Ghana. There is a visible |
| Ghana during the rains. We then raise our hands in | | | | difference in areas where Zoomlion have sprung |
| exasperation at the choked state of gutters but | | | | into action and their efforts are to be |
| despite expressed resolve, the problem persists. | | | | commended. However, a trip into areas where |
| War has been declared on plastic waste and the | | | | Zoomlion have yet to reach, including some |
| battle has been going on for some years now. | | | | villages that should be rural idylls, the picture is a |
| Levies have been put on plastic producers but | | | | messy one. Plastic waste has pervaded every |
| inappropriately discarded plastic is still estimated to | | | | nook and cranny of the country but it may take |
| cause about 22,000 tonnes of rubbish annually. | | | | some time for the street cleaners and rubbish |
| Ghana is not the only country fighting the scourge | | | | collectors to follow. |
| of plastic waste, indeed the problem is a global | | | | There does exist schemes and proposals to |
| one. Many European countries for example, have | | | | tackle the problem of plastic waste in Ghana. |
| introduced levies on shopping bags from the | | | | Recycling is the new buzz word in the country. |
| supermarket. However, there are many | | | | Trashy Bags is an NGO whose mission is to |
| differences between Europe and Ghana with | | | | convert waste plastic into reusable shopping bags, |
| regard to the plastic waste issue. Of major | | | | wallets and other accessories. It has also been |
| importance is the fact that they have a much | | | | suggested that a levy be placed on water |
| more effective waste management system than | | | | sachets such that the consumer inevitably pays |
| us. Every household in Britain can expect their | | | | for the right to litter. By charging an extra 20 |
| rubbish to be collected at least weekly, paid for | | | | pesewa on every sachet that is redeemable once |
| by council taxes. In Ghana, unless you can afford | | | | returned to a recycling point such as Trashy |
| such a service privately, rubbish disposal is an | | | | Bags, sellers and consumers will have extra |
| individual problem. In Europe, the use of plastic | | | | incentive to dispose of empty sachets |
| packaging has been prolific since the 1960's, yet | | | | appropriately. The only dilemma is that consumers |
| you are unlikely to see discarded bags strewn all | | | | are yet purchase these recycled items in enough |
| over the streets, clinging to bushes and clogging | | | | quantity to even make a dent in the waste |
| up drains. It is true they have many more public | | | | problem. New proposals have recently been |
| bins and street cleaners but there is also a | | | | announced by the Mayor of Accra to convert |
| greater awareness among consumers who are | | | | waste into energy which, if implemented, may |
| less likely to drop rubbish indiscriminately. | | | | have a significant effect on the issue. |
| Conversely, it is still within recent memory when | | | | The ultimate answer must be in public education. |
| every shopper in Ghana would go to the market | | | | If it wasn't a problem to shop with our own |
| with his or her own basket or bowl and would | | | | baskets and bottles in the recent past then surely |
| cover purchased groceries in them with a tea | | | | the consumer can be convinced to return to |
| towel. Drinking water was once dispensed to | | | | similar practices today. Environmental awareness |
| consumers from a vessel on the seller's heads in | | | | might encourage consumers in Ghana to purchase |
| reusable cups. We used to carry our own bottles | | | | the products from organisations like Trashy Bags |
| to the cooking oil sellers for refill. Yet, in as little as | | | | instead of collecting an endless stream of free |
| 10 years, plastic waste has hit our streets in a | | | | plastic that they can't dispose of properly. |
| manner that has never been seen in most | | | | |