Abused environment, guilty customers

It is no longer news that the environment is indispensible to human existence. What is however, appalling is the reckless way and manner that some people, in the cause of their daily socio-economic activities, abuse this same “indispensible” environment, as if they don’t know the importance of its safety.

From Lagos to Sokoto; Kano to Calabar; Maiduguri to Yenegoa, all across Nigeria, the stories of environmental abuse and pollution are similar as some Nigerians carelessly dump refuse either on the roads, or road sides, unapproved dump sites, in drainages and gutters, or in open sites which has adverse effect on environmental friendliness.

It is a common sight to find mountains of waste scattered all over major and “minor” cities in Nigeria, even for days and weeks with no apparent effort displayed at getting rid of them, even with the attendant risk of air and ground-water pollution- not minding the threats to public health and effects to flora and fauna. Besides, these mountains of wastes result in emission of toxic chemical to the atmosphere and to the soil whenever they are degraded or burnt. The trees absorb these toxins through their root system which retards growth rates and consistently results to death. Let’s not reemphasise the effect of environmental abuse on the ozone layer.

Be that as it may, if one considers waste management’s past in Nigeria, one could say Lagos State government and few other state governments have done relatively well in attending to the unwelcoming sight of “mountains of refuse dumps” in their states, but more needs to be done given that their current refuse collection process has so far failed to meet appropriate standards. More so, the government and corporate organisations (businesses) should consciously work hand-in-glove in reorienting the citizens on the dangers of their current attitude towards environment. Importantly, businesses must come clean in defense of the environment as they carry out their business activities, and since they have directly contact with their customers/consumers, they should deliberately, jointly work with their customers or products’consumers to “Take Action” in protection of the environment.

Nevertheless, it is helpful to state that our environment, over the years has been utterly maltreated and abused by our actions and inactions, and if anyone cares, she is musing and moaning, wishing she is in a clime where she would be appreciated and treated better.

Let’s make no pretense about this; environmental pollution or abuse is a product of “cause and effect” – simply put; pollution or abuse of the environment is caused by the inhabitants who either consciously or otherwise do things that degrade it, even to the detriment of their health.

It would therefore, be in place to narrow our focus here to the inhabitants which include business owners/operators and their customers. There is no gainsaying that as business activities take place daily, waste “generation” is inevitable- within businesses, and between businesses and their customers/their products’ end users (consumers). However, agreed that there is waste generation in the cause of business activities, the management of these wastes, is equally important for sustainable business environment. Unfortunately, many businesses are more focused on profit-making than regards to the environment. The same attitude is further made obvious by their customers- their products’ consumers who care more for utility the purchased commodity than managing the wastes thereafter.

However, visible amongst these wastes are plastic bags and bottles which appear to be cost-saving and convenient packaging items for businesses; but they are environmentally very damaging because they are made out of non-biodegradable substance- Polyethylene Terephthalate or PET which are durable and do not decay. According to Kari O’ Connor, an environmental issues author, “Different kinds of plastic can degrade at different times, but the average time for a plastic bottle to completely degrade is at least 450 years. It can even take some bottles 1000 years to biodegrade! That’s a long time for even the smallest bottle” he wrote in one of his articles on Eco-Friendly Pet Products. With this understanding, one can imagine better the effect of reckless use and disposal of plastic wastes on our environment by consumers, not minding the “bold” inscription on the “plastic packs” which reads “Dispose Properly”.

While businesses see packaging their commodities in plastic packs as beneficial and their customers (consumers) see the plastic products as “safe” and convenient, our environment suffers as a result of the mismanagement of the plastic wastes- this is the crux of this article as plastic wastes constitute an environmental menace and considerable percentage of urban waste which litter most of our streets, drainages, landfills, dumpsite, beaches and oceans. As their contents are used up by their consumers, they are disposed carelessly, especially in our drainages and gutters- the large buildups of these plastic wastes clog our drainage systems and contribute to flooding, most times, deadly, leading to loss of lives and the destruction of properties worth billions of naira. More so, as the debris are clogged-up in the drainages; the flow of water is interrupted, creating stagnant water which oozes stench, and gives a comfortable habitat for tadpoles, mosquito larvae and microbes which have direct negative impacts on our health. Let me add that hazardous plastic wastes also pose far-reaching ecological danger on our marine environments and wildlife.

The effects of plastic waste on our environment are inexhaustive; however, we all must brace up to the challenge and confront the menace. We can if we are determined. We must be deliberate about it. By “we” I mean, the government, the businesses, consumers and all stakeholders including environmentalists.

In spite of the above, it still beats my imagination why a reasonable person by all standards, that has not been certified “insane” by any psychiatrist, would dispose waste carelessly in a place that is not designated for it. Thanks though to the campaign by the Spirit of Lagos group in Lagos State against inappropriate behaviours,  but just like we can’t think of defecating on our beds, let’s do things right!

The Nigerian government should however, lead the war against plastic waste in Nigeria; other countries have succeeded in eliminating or reducing plastic wastes, we can borrow a leaf from them. Carrying everybody (including business owners/operators and consumers) along may be a good strategy towards developing a concrete solution to environmental impact of plastic wastes.

Arinze Okamelu