Plastic waste management: How you can help

The following is an article on plastic waste management written by Aba Tetteh, one of our senior mentors. Thanks for your contribution Aba!


When they first came in they were great. Thinking about convenience and affordability, we ignored the havoc it could also create: the Menace of Plastic.

Less than five years ago, the use of plastic was not the norm; now, you cannot buy anything without being given a plastic container or bag to put it in. It is important to note that despite the fact that plastics have made life easier for us in terms of being convenient and affordable, plastics do not disintegrate or decompose easily, and as a result we are battling with how to get rid of our plastic waste in an environmentally friendly way.

Here, I seek to illustrate some things we as individuals can do to manage our plastic waste. In the absence of a nationwide management of waste, we can reduce our plastic use by following simple principles of management.

As a nation, we need to learn how to sort out our refuse. Sorting makes it easier for waste management companies to pick up our waste and recycle it without having to pay extra for people to sort them out. Ghanaians are willing and able to dispose of rubbish in containers that are provided, and this is evident by the fact that when waste bins are packed with waste that have not been picked up, most people still go out of their way to cramp rubbish into the container. When we get into the habit of sorting out our waster materials, the two recycling companies we have operating in the Ghana, namely, Ghana Waste Recycling and Zoomlion Ghana Limited, will find it easier to pick up the sorted plastic waste. Getting people to adapt a habit is tedious especially if there is a lackadaisical attitude about it. It is a matter of principle, self-awareness and individual policing. In order for this change to take place, we will have to inculcate the habit of sorting our rubbish, starting in our schools and homes.

In the meantime, we can look at reducing our use of plastics by applying the 3R’s: Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle. How many times do you buy stuff from the market or while walking in town? How do you normally carry such an item or items? Is it in your handbag, carrier bag etc, anything reusable? Oh, here is a thought, you probably would buy a plastic bag or be given a plastic bag by the seller; this is what we would typically do. When we get home, we throw the plastic bag away without a second thought. How about instead of throwing that bag away, we fold it up and keep it stored away. Plastic bags vary in texture and durability. You can use the less durable bags to line your rubbish containers or for wrapping certain items. With the more durable plastic bags, you can reuse them as carrier bags. Remember to keep a carefully folded plastic bag in your handbag or wallet ready for use whenever you find that you need it. This bag can be used for about four or more times before being finally discarded.

Remember the water you bought in the bottle, well do not throw that bottle away, instead keep it and use it for other purposes like left over oil from frying; just remember to remove the label on it and use a permanent ink to label the bottle with its new contents. You can also refill the bottle from dispensers or with sachet water or tap water.

As much as it depends on you, think of ways to reduce your use of plastics, so that instead of ordering take-out to take home, how about you eat at the place instead? Or you can bring along your own reusable bag and give the restaurant’s bag to them. When you have a regular place of shopping and the shop has its own branded shopping bag it gives out, consider saving that shop’s bag and using it again in that shop the next time you purchase something from there. Or advocate for the shop to start giving out reusable bags to its customers and giving discounts to those who reuse the bag that is given to them.

These are just a few practical things we can do in our own way to curb our use of plastics. At first it might feel weird practising these things, but think about how a little goes a long way in bringing about big things. You get your friends and family on board with this and they, their friends and family. A ripple effect is then created, potentially spanning the whole nation.

In everything you do from now on think about this, how can I Reduce my use of plastic? How can I Reuse this plastic? Or do I really need to use plastic? How can/ do I Recycle this plastic? Be inventive. Please outline some things we can also do as individuals to reduce our use of plastics.