Let’s Develop The Culture Of Waste Management – Dr Kwaku Afriyie
The minister of Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation, Dr Kwaku Afriyie has appealed to Ghanaians to develop the habit of properly managing our waste in the country. The minister made this appeal when he engaged the Press at the ministers press briefing at the minister of information in Accra on Wednesday, 4th May, 2022 . He bemoaned the situation where plastic rubber pieces have taken over a lot of spaces. He said his ministry in conjunction with other bodies are contemplating teaming up to arrest the situation. The minister argued that the polythene bags are not degradable materials that has taken over our water and land space.
He advised Ghanaians to separate their waste into identifiable groups like bottles, rubber, objects and metals so that its removal would be so easy. He intimated his ministry is negotiating with transport bodies to let passengers to put sachet water containers in their cars and swept at the destination points to avoid indiscriminate littering on roads and streets. The minister told journalists that plans are afoot to set up factories to recycle these plastics into reusable products . To achieve this however, we need about 30 % of clean plastics to mix with the collected old ones . He disclosed that Ghana cannot ban plastics as a result its economic potential it possesses.
The minister advised Ghanaians to desist from the habit of indiscriminate throwing of refuse and plastics. In conjunction with the global decision to deal with the plastic menace, the ministry has secured 7m dollars to tackle it. There is going to be a model to handle collectors, molders and recyclers in that value chain to make maximum use of the plastic waste. Again the ministry is modelling degradable plastic products to be used by super markets and shops all in an attempt to clear the plastic rubbish.
He admitted that plastic waste has become a major headache for many countries and there’s the need to tackle it head on. The minister touched on other areas like Climate Change Effects ; Nuclear Power Generation ; Industrial Enclave Projects and Foundry and Machine Tools Project under construction.
Source :Nana Poku /johnawuniktv@gmail.com
