Answer to Question #232581 in English for Sipi

Question

Discuss three ways the Ghanaian university student can help tackle Ghana’s plastic waste problem.      

Answer 1

With such high demand, Ghana currently imports about 10,000 metric tonnes of plastic annually (Agbai, 2018). Since most of these plastics are non- biodegradable, they become waste. In Accra alone, about 300 tonnes of plastic waste is generated daily. Here are some suggestions to curtail the plastic waste problems in the motherland. various methods could be used including;

1. Gradual ban on plastic materials

In a number of countries such as France, India and China, plastic bags, either all kinds or just the

light ones, are now banned. In recent times, His Excellency President J. D. Mahama hinted on

the possible ban on some plastic products which was a brilliant idea though such a ban is yet to

be implemented. All concerned citizens should advocate for the ban of plastics simply because it

is doing us more harm than good regardless of what the plastic businessmen say; they are more

interested in their profit than the welfare of society.

2. Biodegradable materials as an alternative

Retailers and also fast food chains should make an effort to find more environmentally friendly

alternatives, in addition, much can be done at the individual level: returnable or refillable bottles

made from ecologically harmless materials, lunch boxes with home-made meals rather than fast

food, picnics or parties using environmentally friendly materials such as paper cups and

plates instead of plastic materials.

3. Genetically Modified Organisms (bacteria, fungi etc.)

Genetically modified organisms could be engineered to eat up these unwanted plastic wastes.

Recently in the Kyoto University, a bacterium has been discovered to produce a never-seen-before enzyme that can degrade plastics in few weeks. This gene could be isolated and incorporated into fungi or bacteria of choice to salvage this menace through a comprehensive Biotechnology programme. We strongly believe Ghanaian scientists can develop an antidote to this problem.