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 people, in the cause of their daily socio-economic activities, abuse this same “indispensible” environment, like they are not aware of 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 water ways drainage system, 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, with 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.

To be fair, if one considers waste management past in Nigeria, one could say Lagos State government and few other states 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 have so far failed to meet appropriate standards.  More so the government and corporate organization (businesses) should consciously work hands-in-gloves to   reorientation of the citizens on the dangers of their attitude to the environment. Importantly, businesses must come clean in defense of the environment in carrying out their business activities, and since they have directly contact (no matter the chain line) with their customers and consumers, deliberately work on their customers to be responsible to their 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 “production” is inevitable- within businesses, and between businesses and their customers/their products end users (consumers). However, agreed that there is waste production in the cause of business activities, the management of these wastes, is equally important for sustainable business environment. Unfortunately, many businesses are so focused on making profit that they ignore the environment. The same attitude is further made obvious by their customers and their products’ consumers as they care more of the immediate benefit of the purchased products than the waste disposal thereafter.

However, visible amongst these wastes are plastic bags, bottles and sachet water packs which appear to be cost-saving packaging items for businesses, but 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 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 products as beneficial, their customers (consumers) see the plastic products as “safe” and convenient, and our environment suffers as a result of the mismanagement of the 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, 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, cause pollution and kill wildlife. 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 has direct negative impacts on our health even as hazardous plastic wastes pose far-reaching ecological danger on our marine environments.

That there is profit in conversion- that is in reducing; recycling, reusing plastic waste is a matter for another day’s discussion. However, one wonders why emphasis isn’t made by government on this..

To however tackle this challenge, our government must be deliberate in leading the war against plastic waste in Nigeria; other countries have succeed in eliminating or reducing plastic wastes, we can borrow a leaf from them. Working with businesses and consumers may be a good strategy reduces the environmental impact of plastic bags.

Meanwhile there should be effective Environmental and Waste Management Agency that will step up its game of enforcement and surveillance, and give out stringent punishment to anyone or business found violating environmental laws.

We need an environment that will guarantee healthy living and thriving businesses. It begins with all of us taking responsibility.

Arinze Okamelu