The Over exploitation of wildlife and aquatic life has led to the near extinction of certain species, deforestation on its part, is leading to global warming, and today the increasingly level of industrialization has led to plastic pollution, putting our globe into impending crisis.
Currently, majority of residents of cities in Cameroon, have limited access to water, streams are polluted, and aquatic life dies from pollution. Certain landscapes may even become barren due to the accumulation of excess plastics (especially nylon) in particular locations.
As the world’s population continues to grow, the quantity of garbage which people produce also increases. Plastics which are predominantly composed of toxic materials can seriously endanger the environment, in form of
air, water and land pollution. Plastic pollution occurs when non-biodegradable materials gather in an area and begin to negatively affect the environment, plants, wildlife and even humans.
The UN environmental report (2018) reveals that, in Africa as of 2018, an estimated 84,792 and 35,196 tons of plastic existed in the river Nile and Niger respectively, while only 9% of all plastic waste ever produced has been recycled. Approximately 12% has been incinerated, while the rest 97% has accumulated in landfills, dumps or the natural environment.
The world is beginning to reap negative externalities of the industrial revolution. Plastic waste has been the cause of death for numerous marine mammals where they either accidentally consume particles of plastic, or die while becoming entrapped in plastic waste. In addition to being a killer of plants and animals, it also causes illness due to the toxic compounds used in its production. The Plastic Pollution Coalition (PPC) reveals that even babies are being born, pre-polluted.
In Cameroon, a substantial quantity of plastic material used to package products result in being thrown carelessly on land, in streams and rivers and some finally ending up in the sea. The latter explains why the Cameroon government banned production, importation or sales of non-biodegradable plastic (paper) in April 2014. The policy is yet to be effective due to the fact that plastic papers are still in use in markets and shops to parcel merchandise. The United Nations on June 05, 2018, called on everyone to take concrete actions, to beat plastic pollution. The world will only be a safe place, if we take care of it.
