Commemorating World Environment Day 2023 – Beating Plastic Pollution!

5^th June, 2023 is World Environment Day! 

The theme for this year is centered around plastic pollution. While plastic has many valuable uses, we have become addicted to single-use plastic products, which has come with severe environmental, social, economic and health consequences. One million plastic bottles are purchased every minute, while up to five trillion plastic bags are used worldwide every year. In total, half of all plastic produced is designed for single-use purposes – used just once and then thrown away[1].

Coming closer to home, according to the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA), the country generates approximately 600 tonnes of plastic waste daily. Only less than 10 percent of this waste is collected and recycled. The rest ends up being burned, among others, in landfills and the water bodies. Similarly, according to research conducted by the World Climate School's Uganda chapter, more than 75% of used plastic bottles end up in landfills, lakes, and rivers, damaging the environment[2].

This year’s theme comes as a reminder that people’s actions on plastic pollution matters – nothing works in a vacuum. Now is the time to accelerate this action, limit plastic waste and push for a transition to a circular economy[3]. 

All of us, be it government, businesses and communities have a role to play in this initiative. 

The government and local governments should act, commit and set new norms and standards. We should thus laud the government of Uganda for enactment of the National Environment Act 2019, which sets out a decent plastic waste management mechanism. 

The Act prohibits the use of single-use carrier bags with a thickness of less than 30 microns and requires makers of polythene bags and plastics to recycle plastic waste and label the polythene bags. In addition, it imposes producer extended responsibility in line with the polluter pays principle[4]. This ensures that producers of all materials with potential to pollute will have the duty to follow the management of their product through its life cycle.

Further, the law imposes penalties on companies that litter plastic waste. It brings on board a cross section of other actors including, the Office of the Prime Minister, the National Bureau of Standards (UNBS), and the Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) together with NEMA to implement the provisions on plastic pollution. 

So far, as a country, we have a good law in place. What is required now is the enforcement of the law. No prosecutions have been instituted despite the continuous glaring breaches of the law by different sections of the public. Therefore, we call upon NEMA working together with the environmental police to enforce the law. Secondly, we call upon government, working through its relevant agencies partnering with the private sector to sensitise the public on the dangers of plastic through waste management campaigns and public education on proper waste handling and disposal, incentivise sustainable business practices and invest in better waste management infrastructure. 

Businesses should eliminate and substitute unnecessary and hazardous plastic production and packaging, especially single-use plastic. Investors should take the initiative of mobilising finance and setting standards for businesses and industries to move away from harmful plastic production and toward circular economies on plastics – to push for better use, reuse and recycle of plastics. The standards can be set by businesses through their industry associations, e.g. Uganda Bankers Association (UBA), Uganda Manufacturing Association (UMA), Uganda Plastics Manufacturers and Recyclers Association (UPMRA) just to mention but a few. 

Individual and community actions buttress the systemic change required to transition to a less plastic-dependent economy. Therefore, NGOs, faith organisations and community groups are a powerful source of change in the world. We can all use our voice and choices to drive change.

On the global scene, plans are underway to forge an international legally binding agreement to end plastic pollution by 2024, following the UN Environment Assembly endorsing a historic resolution in March 2022 in Nairobi. It is expected to reflect diverse alternatives to address the full lifecycle of plastics, the design of reusable and recyclable products and materials, and the need for enhanced international collaboration to facilitate access to technology, capacity building and scientific and technical cooperation[5]. We look forward to seeing the draft agreement soon. 

In closing, plastic pollution endures and is suffocating our environment. A greater public appreciation of waste management is necessary.  With the right infrastructure and support, a reliable plastic waste recycling industry has the potential to promote environmental sustainability, foster innovation and entrepreneurship, provide employment opportunities and help facilitate the development of a truly circular economy to turn trash into treasure.