Recycling is key to dealing with plastic waste: Dr Kanton

22-07-13    

Plastic waste

A Principal Research Scientist at the Savanna Agricultural Research Institute, Dr Roger Kanton says plastic waste could better be managed if government support individuals and group of persons that have the skill to change and recycle waste materials into productive use.  He bemoaned that though government in its quest to improve sanitation had employed the services of waste management companies, nothing concrete have been achieved.   Speaking to Radio Ghana in Bolgatanga, Dr Kanton cited Zoomlion Ghana Limited and its subsidiaries as waste management giants that have caused the nation millions of cedis on sanitation without integrating measures to venture into recycling, which is one of the surest ways of raking additional revenue for government. For him, the country’s waste management teams contracted by government have derailed from their core mandate as the country continues to battle with the filth that has engulfed every corner of the country. Effective recycling, he proposed was key to addressing the sanitation situation in the country as it was also going to create employment opportunities for the teeming unemployed youth. He said in as much as the country loses chunk of its resources to poor sanitation, its adverse effect on humans, animals and water bodies including crop yield cannot be quantified and needed to be tackled with all the seriousness it deserves. Recycled materials, he stated could be of immense benefit to all since plastic materials are the most used items in the country. Dr Kanton however pleaded with government to extend its support to persons that are into recycling of plastic waste materials, adding that most developing countries have adopted the practice to improve sanitation. Failure to do so, he noted would mean that Ghana was likely to miss the MDG targeted for improved basic sanitation by 2015. He therefore urged government and other concerned agencies to re-channel their energies by making recycling a better option for improved sanitation and job creation. Whilst appealing to expert in waste management to prioritize the practice of recycling, Dr Kanton called for attitudinal change towards all waste issues. Discipline he however indicated was the hallmark to addressing sanitation in the country.

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