Plastic has become one of the world’s most widely used materials. Since large-scale production began in the 1950s, global plastic production has grown exponentially because of its versatility, durability, and relatively low cost. According to the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), the world now produces more than 430 million tonnes of plastic every year.
Yet only about nine per cent of all plastic waste is recycled, around 19 per cent is incinerated, while nearly 50 per cent ends up in landfills. The remaining 22 per cent is openly dumped, burned or leaks into rivers, lakes and oceans, making plastic pollution one of the defining environmental challenges of our time. UNEP estimates that the African continent generates approximately 17 million tonnes of plastic waste every year, while recycling rates remain among the lowest globally.
In Ghana, studies by the Ministry of Environment, Science and Technology, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and development partners estimate that Ghana generates between 1.1 and 1.3 million tonnes of plastic waste annually, representing roughly 12 to 14 per cent of the country’s municipal solid waste stream. This translates into more than 3,000 tonnes of plastic waste every day. The challenge is not simply the volume of plastics generated but what happens after they are discarded.It is estimated that only about 10 to 15 per cent of Ghana’s plastic waste is collected for recycling, while the vast majority is mixed with other waste.
Recent flooding The recent floods have reignited the debate, but the answer may lie not in banning plastics, but in collecting, recycling and giving them a second life. As Ghana joined the rest of the world to mark International Plastic Bag Free Day on July 3, environmental experts, policymakers and industry players renewed calls for decisive action against plastic pollution. Yet amid the growing calls for bans on plastics, a more fundamental question emerged: Can Ghana realistically do away with plastics altogether?
For many experts, the answer is no, not yet. Plastics have become woven into almost every aspect of modern life. From food packaging and drinking water sachets to medicine, agriculture, construction, healthcare and manufacturing, plastics offer affordability, durability and convenience that few alternative materials can currently match.
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