In commemoration of the 2018 edition of the world environment day with the theme ” Fighting Plastic Pollution”, the program director of a non-governmental organization, Centre for Environment, Human Rights and Development (CEHRD), Mr. Steven Obodoekwe, has said that the United Nations since 1974 has set aside June 5th as a day to let government, people, and environmental activists reflect on the environment and how to protect mother earth.
He noted that as this year’s theme implies “fighting plastic pollution”, the activity to mark this year’s world environment day is to sensitize the public on how to ensure that pollution caused by burning of plastics can be controlled by consciously gathering used plastics for proper disposal without burning them, including pure water sachets.
Mr. Obodoekwe stated that plastics are end products of hydrocarbons which are made through a suffisticated process. He emphasized that when plastics are burned, they release hydrocarbons which have serious health implications and can cause cancer. He also advised against the dumping of plastics in drainages as it will inhibit the proper flow of the drainage system, thereby causing erosion.
The CERHD head advised Riwama( waste disposal company), at the point of collecting refuse, to separate decomposable waste from nondecomposable waste, and that the nondecomposable waste like the plastics should be recycled and reused instead of burning them, which has high health implications. He also added that the state government should take serious actions in educating people on how to handle plastics.
Mr. Obodoekwe also, condemned the illegal burning of thousands of tyres on the 4th of June, by the flyover park axis. He said the act poses a very high health risk, not just to the people around the flyover park axis but also to the people beyond the park axis. He said the burnt tyres generates hydrocarbon, black soot and other health implicating ailments.
He advised both security operatives and artisans involved in illegal refineries to desist from the illegal act of burning crude, tyres, tankers etc, because it poses serious health risks.
