Plastic waste is evil, INEOS calls for zero tolerance policies

By Charles Ogallo

Plastics are fundamental to modern life but plastic waste is an issue in sharp focus like never before, according to INEOS, one of the World largest chemicals producers , as it calls on governments globally to adopt zero tolerance policies against littering 

The company says plastic is valuable just like glass, metal, and paper but plastic waste becomes evil especially when it is badly handled adding that giving up om plastic may not ultimately be the solution to global wastes problems. 

Owned by British billionaire chemical engineer turned financier and industrialist Sir James Arthur Ratcliffe, the company calls for further innovations on plastic waste recycling technologies  and  a global approach  towards  solving the global problem,

This comes as reports show oceans chocking with mou

ntains of plastic wastes threatening the entire marine ecosystem across the world. 

Between 60-80 per cent  marine pollution  is composed of plastic, according to a report dubbed, Plastics and Shallow Water Coral Reefs, presented at the Fourth UN Environment Assembly held early last year in Nairobi.. 

The report spotlights the current science on the impact of plastics on shallow water coral reefs and provides recommendations for policy-makers for addressing and reducing these impacts which include unprecedented levels of decline in reef health and coral cover across the globe. 

The report indicates that hundreds of millions of people and industries worth billions of dollars depend on healthy shallow water coral reefs. Yet, these fragile ecosystems face threat from human activity, including climate change and pollution. 

Plastic waste pollution has always come into sharp focus during UN Environment meetings with environment experts calling for sustainable global solutions, 

According to head of UN Environment’s coral reef unit, Jerker Tamelander “Marine plastic litter pollution is already affecting more than 800 marine species through ingestion, entanglement and habitat change,”  

“Waste continues to leak from land, and coral reefs are on the receiving end. They also trap a lot of fishing gear as well as plastic lost from aquaculture. With the impacts of climate change on coral reef ecosystems already significant, the additional threat of plastics must be taken seriously.” says Jerker Tamelander 

However, INEOS insists that Plastic has changed the world like no other material and is fundamental to everyday life and that giving up on it would not be the answer. What’s needed is a wave of change. 

“We believe it is not about saying no to plastic but saying no to throwing away plastic.We also need to talk about how that rubbish ended up in those rivers, on beaches, and in the ocean and what we can do about it” the company says in an articular published in it's website. 

Water bottles are seen as a major nuisance for the environment across the world with many littering rivers, the Indian Ocean, forests and even drainage. 

Kenya's ban on Plastic

Kenya government declared a ban on plastic bags in 2018 as part of her spirited fight against plastic waste pollution in the country. 

President Uhuru Kenyatta recently announced also a ban on single-use plastics in beaches, national parks, forests and conservation areas  across the country. 

According to the President , the ban will take effect on June 5, 2020. Therefore no

Kenyan going to the beach or national parks while carrying water bottles, plastic plates, plastic cups as well as plastic spoons and forks will face arrest immediately the ban comes into force.

The writer's contacts:
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@OgalloCharles

 

 

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