Plastic waste now dominates regional refuse, poses danger – Environmental health officer

Data from waste management assessments in the Ashanti Region has revealed an alarming surge in plastic waste, which now constitutes nearly 20% of the total waste generated in the region. David Oppong Darko, the Ashanti Regional environmental health officer has said.

Speaking at a public sensitization event held at the Kumasi Kejetia to create awareness on the need to ban styrofoam products, the Ashanti Regional Environmental Health officer, David Oppong Darko disclosed that plastic waste has surpassed metals, glass, textiles, and paper to become the second-highest category of solid waste, trailing only organic matter.

"According to the data presented, organic waste which is biodegradable accounts for 68.9% of the waste stream, while plastic waste has climbed to 19.32%". The regional environmental health official warned that this trend serves as a major red flag for the nation.

He further outlined the catastrophic effects of this plastic proliferation by identifying three primary areas of concern. They include environmental degradation and flooding. With this, he linked to the persistent urban flooding experienced in cities like Accra and Kumasi directly to plastic waste. "Our drains get choked with plastic waste," he noted, referencing video footage from past flooding incidents where plastic debris was seen floating across streets.

Another effect is wildlife and waterway contamination. According to him, beyond urban flooding, plastic waste is destroying rivers and oceans. He explained that animals often suffer from entanglement, where discarded plastics wrap around them, or ingestion, where they swallow plastic debris, leading to fatalities.

The third challenge, according to the data, is health hazards. The regional environmental health officer highlighted that plastics, particularly styrofoam, can leach harmful chemicals into food products, posing a serious risk to human health, thus justifying the urgent need for a total phase-out.

Beyond the environmental toll, Mr Darko emphasized the staggering economic cost of plastic waste management. Thus, the volume of plastic debris requiring collection, transport, and disposal places a heavy financial burden on municipal assemblies.

"During recent dredging and desilting operations conducted on streams in Kumasi, the Environmental Health Unit reported that a higher percentage of all debris evacuated from the waterways consisted of plastic waste.

"It requires a lot of funds to collect and dispose of these items," he remarked, noting that national cleanup exercises are largely dominated by the evacuation of plastic waste from gutters and drains.

In light of the evidence presented, he said, the Environmental Health Unit has officially pledged its full support for the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in its mission to ban non- biodegradable plastic and styrofoam materials.

"Environmental Health Units all across this nation are behind the EPA to ban these plastic materials". He concluded, urging the public to take the plastic crisis seriously for the sake of the country's ecological and economic future.