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.
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| 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 12TH JANUARY, 2018.
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The Senior Divisional Officer for Menchum
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The Lord Mayor Wum Council
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The Honourable Senator
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Divisional Delegates and Service Heads
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Political, Religious and Traditional Authorities
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Presidents of Development Associations
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Economic Operators
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All Other Protocol Duly Respected
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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.
