UNIDO, AEPB warn against illegal plastic waste disposal

The United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), in partnership with the Abuja Environmental Protection Board (AEPB), has warned against the illegal disposal of plastic waste, citing severe environmental and health consequences.

They expressed concern over the growing trend of unauthorised plastic waste dumping during the training for waste workers under the UNIDO project, themed: ‘Promoting Sustainable Plastics Value Chains Through Circular Economy Practices.’

Speaking during the training, the National Programme Coordinator for Environment & Energy at UNIDO, Oluyomi Banjo, stressed that illegal plastic waste disposal poses severe threats to ecosystems, wildlife, and human health.

Banjo said: “The environment needs to be protected for everyone’s benefit. We are here to train individuals, particularly waste pickers from the informal sector, to raise awareness and improve their methods of managing plastic waste.”

He stressed the importance of addressing these issues collectively to mitigate their impact.

He added, “What we have found is that there are different activities along the value chain. But at the end of the day, when people dump waste indiscriminately, especially plastic, it not only becomes an environmental problem but also a social and economic problem. You will see many of our drainages are blocked.

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“When the winds come, it causes erosion and flooding. Also, you will see that our environments are really dirty, which also affects our social standing. These are issues we have to tackle.

“If you look at the wealth of properties destroyed when flooding occurs, it is a huge loss to the government and the people. That is why it is necessary for all of us to take action.”

In his remarks, the Director of Solid Waste Management at AEPB, Enwerem Benjamin, underscored the need for greater cooperation and action to address the illegal plastic waste disposal menace and promote a culture of sustainability and environmental stewardship.

Benjamin said the critical nature of the training in addressing plastic waste issues both in the Federal Capital Territory and nationwide for economic development.

He said: “The training is critical because we know the menace of plastics on the environment. Plastics from waste that don’t easily decompose, which is why we call it non-biodegradable waste.

“It has negative impacts on the environment. It reduces the quality of soil and contributes to marine pollution. So, it’s a very critical element in waste that must be dealt with, or it will have adverse consequences.

“Even the climate change problems we face—plastics are part of the contributors to climate change. So, it must be addressed both here in the FCT and across the nation.”