Plastic manufacturers wants government to legislate use of biodegradable additives

The Government has been urged to legislate the use of biodegradable additives, an environmental-friendly technology, to enable plastic manufacturers use it in the production of flexible plastic products including carrier bags and water sachet.

The call was made at a day’s Stakeholders’ Forum organised by the Ghana Plastic Manufacturers Association (GPMA) in Accra on Wednesday, to develop and implement effective strategy framework and action plan for the adoption of mandatory use of plastic additives in Ghana.

The forum, which was facilitated by the Society for Managing Initiatives and Leadership Enhancement (SMILE), Ghana, and sponsored by the Business Sector Advocacy Challenge (BUSAC) Fund, was on the theme: “Biodegradable Plastic Technology, An Answer to Plastic Littering in Ghana.”

Speaking to the Ghana News Agency after the opening session, Mr. John James, Export Manager of Wells Plastics Limited, dealers in the biodegradable additives, said the technology would break down plastics in an environmentally friendly manner.

He said though its use could create a five to six per cent cost add-on for plastic manufacturers, he stressed that the long-term benefit far outweighed any initial cost.

Mr. James observed that Ghana was heavily saddled with water sachet waste challenge and expressed optimism that the use of the technology would have a positive effect in the industry.

Mr. Richard Odoom, Vice President of GPMA called on the government to urgently consider a legislation to make it mandatory for the use of biodegradable plastic additives.

He said the technology was time-tested and truly trusted in many countries, citing Brazil and Zimbabwe as examples.

Mr. Odoom called for more education on proper plastic waste disposal.

Mr. George Prah, Member of GPMA expressed worry that the massive demand for and use of plastics had brought in its wake a major national waste management challenge resulting from the poor end of life management.

He said the menace had caused some livestock to ingest plastic waste in the course of feeding.

Mr. Prah said the challenge of plastic waste had caused flood and adversely affected the country’s health, economic and environmental sectors.

Mr. Johnson Oduro, Executive Director of SMILE, Ghana, said the objective of the forum was to build consensus among stakeholders, identify appropriate legislative measures required for use of biodegradable plastic technology in Ghana, and develop timeline for the technology in Ghana.

He was hopeful that commitment from the Ministry of Environment, Science and Technolgy and the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development would facilitate the development of the required legislation for the adoption of the biodegradable plastic technology.**