MAYOR DIGHAMBONG ANTHONY CALLS FOR BAN ON PRODUCTION OF PLASTIC CONTAINERS

The Mayor of Wum Council, Dighambong Anthony Mvo has called on the state to do more to ban the production of plastic containers and papers in the country so as to protect the environment for future generations. He made the call during the launching of activities for the collection of plastic packaging below 61 microns in his municipality which will see some employed youths picking plastic papers and containers from the streets and neighborhoods for recycling.

Over one hundred youths will take part in the program. The youths will be charged with the task of picking up plastic waste to be deposited at the Wum council for transmission to Bamenda.

Mayor Dighambong Anthony waged a war in 2016 against plastic papers and containers and the sale of products in them in his municipality. But this has proven largely difficult to implement due to the lack of national regulation and the power of the multinational brewery companies that produces soft drinks in plastic containers. He said plastic papers take at least 50 years to decompose, and plastic containers at least 400 years. 

“I feel there is a need for Wum council to take the lead in eradicating the use of these plastics to protect the environment. If somebody considers plastic paper, plastic containers, anything plastic useful, then the person may have not known how harmful it is to the environment” he added. He described it as “the worst enemy of the human environment”

If not for the lack of industrial activities in Wum municipality, the waste would have been processed and used as manure, producing bricks to pave slaps or use for roofing. It is worthy to note that the bricks are made only of the processed plastic waste and sand with no water or cement added. The bricks according to the technicians can last for up to 200 years.

Each of the participants will return home with a stipend at the end of the program. The Council still expects many more youths to join in the fight against plastic packaging below 61 microns. 

The Divisional Delegate of Environment, Nature Protection and sustainable development, Mr Fung Fidelis Kah, presented an exposé on the effects of non biodegradable plastics bags on the environment as well as on humans.

Mr Fung Fidelis Kah Divisional Delegate of Environment, Nature Protection and sustainable development

AN ADDRESS PRESENTED BY THE DIVISIONAL DELEGATE OF ENVIRONMENT, PROTECTION OF NATURE AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT MENCHUM ON THE OCCASION OF LAUNCHING ACTIVITIES FOR THE FIGHT AGAINST NON-BIODEGRADABLE PLASTIC PACKAGING BELOW 61 microns IN WUM SUB DIVISION TODAY 12^TH JANUARY, 2018.

-         The Senior Divisional Officer for Menchum

-         The Lord Mayor Wum Council

-         The Honourable Senator

-         Divisional Delegates and Service Heads

-         Political, Religious and Traditional Authorities

-         Presidents of Development Associations

-         Economic Operators

-         All Other Protocol Duly Respected

-         Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen

Your presence in great numbers here today from all facets of society is to continue our collective efforts to fight banned plastic packaging in Cameroon. This shows the importance you attach to environmental issues and concerns and particularly to be part of the solution to the environmental challenges of this millennium.

Effects of Plastics bags on the Environment

·        The effects of plastic bags on the environment are really devastating. The biggest problem with plastics is that once they have been soiled/ used, they end up in trash can, which then ends up in the landfill or is burnt. Either solution is very detrimental for the environment. Burning emits toxic gases that harm the atmosphere and increase the level of dioxins and carbon dioxide in the air resulting in ozone layer depletion and consequently global warming and climate change. Those that end up in the landfill site are held there indefinitely as part of the plastic waste problem because some need up to 400 years to decompose completely.

·        Plastic lithering is very unattractive to the environment and affects the aesthetic beauty of the landscape.

·        Plastics block gutters and drainage facilities resulting in flooding in cities and towns when it rains.

·        Plastics when burnt in open air, results in the production of organic persistent pollutants and greenhouse gases which cause acid rain, destruction of the ozone layer resulting in global warming and climate change.

·        Death of pigs and goats when eaten by these animals because of the smell of good food that is usually packaged using these plastics.

·        Medics tell us that they cause cancer in humans.

·        Inhibit the growth of plants when their roots get in contact with buried plastics.

·        They are non-biodegradable and as such pollute the soil making it unfit for cultivation of crops and the growth of trees.

          In the search for a permanent ecologic management of waste and the protection of the environment, the Cameroon government across the MINEPDED had elaborated several important texts of application of the framework law relative to the management of waste.

For the effective and efficient implementation of the joint Arrêté MINEPDED/MINCOMMERCE of 24/10/2012 regulating the manufacture, importation and commercialization of non-biodegradable plastic packaging below 61 microns many activities have been realized. Encouraging results and a massive adhesion of the population have equally been obtained. Nevertheless, Banned plastics are still in circulation despite all attempts to stop them. For this reason, the state of Cameroon across the budget of MINEPDED has supported the Wum council amongst other councils in the fight against banned plastics in Cameroon.

Ladies and Gentlemen, the principal objective of this support to councils is to ensure cleanliness of the population’s environment through the fight and collection of waste from banned plastic packaging. To this effect, the population is called upon to adopt more civic behaviour by the non-production/usage of banned plastics below 61 microns. In addition, banned plastics will be seized, collected/picked from nature, streets, public places and stored in the council for their eventual transportation to the divisional delegation of MINEPDED.

The Wum council will recruit youths and or sign contracts with NGOs and associations working in the domain of environmental protection for an efficient collection. The collection/ seizure, sanction, gratification will take place in the months of February and March while Quantification, storage of collected plastic waste, and elaboration and transmission of report take place in the month of April 2018.

At the end of this exercise, Wum Council is expected to attain the following expected results laid down by MINEPDED:

v 70% of the population is sensitized on the negative effects of plastic packaging below 61 microns.

v At least 80% of plastics abandoned in nature are collected. (non-biodegradable plastics)

v At least 70% of defaulters of the regulation in force are known and sanctioned.

v A final report of activities realised showing justification of expenditures and a Proces-Verbal of reception of stocks of plastics collected is transmitted at the end of the operation to MINEPDED.

Let’s therefore put hands on deck to ensure this operation be successful for a clean and healthy environment to inhabitants of Wum Sub-division and the Menchum division at large.

Long live Wum Council;

Short live banned plastic packaging below 61 microns

Long live the Ministry of Environment, Protection of Nature and Sustainable Development;

Long live the Republic of Cameroon.