UMaT Professor Warns Of Escalating Plastic Waste Crisis In Tarkwa.

A Professor at the University of Mines and Technology, who is the Head of department of Environmental and safety engineering UMAT, Prof. Eric Stemn, has raised serious concerns over the growing plastic waste problem in Ghana, particularly in the Tarkwa Nsuaem Municipality, describing it as a major environmental and public health threat.

Speaking during a sensitization exercise held at lorry stations and market centres to mark World Health Day, with the theme plastic and rubber waste a health and environmental crisis, Prof. Stemn highlighted alarming statistics on plastic waste generation and disposal in the country.

According to him, Ghana generates approximately 1.1 million tonnes of plastic waste annually.

However, only about 9 to 10 percent of this waste is recycled, leaving more than 90 percent to end up at dump sites and landfill locations across the country.

Focusing on Tarkwa, Prof. Stemn explained that waste generation per capita stands at about 0.9 kilograms per person per day, with plastics accounting for roughly 30 to 35 percent of that figure.

In total, the municipality generates an estimated 201 tonnes of waste daily, out of which about 30 percent is plastic.

He again warn and said when hot liquids are poured into these plastics, the heat can cause some of the chemicals in the material to dissolve.
These chemicals then mix with the liquid—whether it is kooko, tea, oats, or any other hot beverage.

As a result, when you consume that liquid, you are also ingesting small amounts of these chemicals.

some of the market women also have to say about plastic waste

Story by Nana Fynn@W/R.