₦airaland Forum

anonimi:
Recycle what is already in circulation.
Reduce further production and use of plastics by having natural/bio-degradable options and multiple use plastic.
Many thanks for creating the thread and special thanks to the mindful mods who took it to the front page.
Kudos y'all.
Life is more than just about money and s3x.


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You're welcome.

backnbeta:
For this to be successful in Nigeria, we need serious orientation. It is when we truly, genuinely understand the dangers that we will be able to stop plastic pollution

Who will make us have this serious orientation that you have rightly said that we need?
Are you a member of a volunteer group working on such?
Do you plan to be part of one such group, inspired by this thread


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X36DD:
This is not a concise method of eradicating plastics in Nigeria. it is like those politicians rambling. you are talking about moimoi. Is moi moi the major reason for plastic epidemic ? Nobody even sells moimoi in plastics. leave my moimoi alone o. You can raise awareness all you want, but the consumers are not responsible for plastic epidemics. Companies are. list the individual products manufactured using plastics and their alternatives.

I looked through your comment and could not find your own concise method of eradicating plastics.
Have you heard that demand creates supply? If the consumers don't desire plastics, will companies make them?
Instead of doing your own bit, you are there undermining another person's contribution. Na so you be? Na so you want take make progress


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Elijahrona:
Plastics are everywhere. We use them for various purposes and they are a part of the everyday life of most people. They pollute our environment but more are made every second because of demand. A lot of solutions have been brought to mitigate plastic pollution but we are still getting negative news everyday. What can we do to permanently end plastic pollution, to make it a thing of the past? Read this article.

[img]https://1.bp..com/-KwQlp9QT9fI/XCVUVLCMJJI/AAAAAAAAEbk/oU45-hge2TwjC70eRAFyM6Wycv8MhnoUwCPcBGAYYCw/s320/Dispose%2Bthe%2Bright%2Bway.jpg[/img]

What have we been doing wrong?
We have been recycling and reusing, we have reduced our use but there are still plastic bags, bottles, etc everywhere. What are we doing wrong? Well to answer this question, let us view plastic pollution as what it is; a problem like every other problems. To end plastic pollution, we need to understand how problems are solved. To explain, i'll use an illustration.

To chop or to uproot?
We know that trees can sometimes be stubborn. Some can be chopped today and regrow before the end of the year. For such trees, they will always grow so long as their roots are still in the ground. In order to stop those tress from growing again, we either kill the root or uproot it. The bottom line is that the battle against the tree (problem we see) can only be won (solved) when we face the root (source of the problem). You see, to solve a problem, we have to find the source.

[img]https://1.bp..com/-NXTdJGfUg5c/XTSQB3YOYZI/AAAAAAAAEro/bCUk1VT2RQUdnenTTVgUnNVZ2mNXspEQQCLcBGAs/s320/tree%2Bstump%2Bwith%2Bsprout.jpg[/img]

How is the illustration above related to plastic pollution? Like all problems, we have to find the source(s) of plastic pollution. The sources include:

* Unavailability of alternatives: Plastics can be used as bottles, bags, wraps, spoons, fashion accessories, toys, etc. Glass being an alternative to plastic bottles is not an alternative to plastic bags. You see, plastic has various uses so we need to come up with various alternatives.
* Lack of discipline and love for the environment: Some cities in Nigeria are flooded because of bad drainage system or clogged drainage. The people in these cities know fully well that they have a role to play in order to curb the flood. They can clear the drainage system then dispose the right way so that their dirt and wastes don't block the waterway again. Well, they sometimes clear the system but they still throw their dirt anyhow. They know that their wastes cause the flood yet they still dispose anyhow. If they are disciplined or have love for their environment, they will not dispose just anyhow.
* Increase of demand: How is the demand for plastics increasing even though we are trying to reduce our use? I'll explain with an illustration.

The sinking boat
A boat in a river has a hole in the middle and water is entering the boat through the hole. The more water enters the boat, the lower the boat becomes. How can we raise the level of the boat? Your answer will definitely be to scoop the water out. Well that's part of the solution but to permanently solve this problem, we'll need to first block the hole so that water cannot enter the boat before we remove the water which is already in the boat. Both actions taken are important but one proves to have a more lasting solution than the other. That's not all, let's see how we can use this illustration to explain how the demand of plastics is increasing.

[img]https://1.bp..com/-9zaRRKNONPo/XTSQpZQrufI/AAAAAAAAErw/RkvkADUXUBga8Icn-j7IpQLJsoqJJTErQCLcBGAs/s320/hole%2Bin%2Ba%2Bboat.jpg[/img]

Now let's say that you have been idle in that boat and now that there's a hole, you have the job to scoop out the water. You know fully well that when the hole is closed and the water is out, you'll resume being idle so instead of closing the hole, you are very comfortable with scooping out the water. Just as doctors will go jobless when there's no sickness, people who sell coffins will close their shops if death stops, etc you will become idle if the hole is blocked.

We humans are subconsciously selfish. When will we realize that the more we come up with ways to reuse plastics, the more dependent on plastics we will be? Yes let's appreciate everyone who have come up with ideas to reuse plastics but let us also realize that plastic pollution is still increasing. Here are some ideas they brought:

* From 2017, there have been a lot of articles online about some organisms like the waxworm which are able to eat plastic bags. Is it really worth it? Yes i agree that the waxworm eats plastics but then again what next? Can it digest it? What if another organism eats it or it finds a way to our tables (bioaccumulation)?. If we use these worms, they'll surely find a way to our tables because fishes eat them and we eat fishes. We'll indirectly be eating plastics.
* Today, plastics are being tested in construction; some are used to construct walkways, some are shredded and mixed with mortar or melted to make bricks or roads. These innovations are good but they also make us more dependent on plastics.

Let us solve this problem of plastic pollution from the root. No we aren't condemning the ideas because without them, we'll have even more plastics in our environment. Let us first focus on blocking the hole before we start scooping out the water. That is, let us find alternatives to plastics, reduce (or end) our demand for plastics before we channel our focus on what we can use the plastics already polluting our environment for.

When we focus on reusing plastics, we'll be fighting a never ending battle. We then can say that the more polluted the world becomes, the richer someone becomes (the person who came up with ideas on how to reuse the bottles). If we really want to permanently end plastic pollution, we should first focus our ideas on alternatives to use in order to reduce the demand, focus our energy in enlightening the public about causes, effects and solutions to pollution then come up with (or use existing) ideas to reuse the plastics already polluting the Earth. This is a fight with an end.

Step by step actions to permanently end plastic pollution
Green alternatives
We're looking for alternatives that will not cause pollution after mass production. Alternatives that are degradable (able to breakdown unlike plastics) and healthier are what we should be looking for. Instead of using plastics to wrap food items like moimoi (bean pudding) and okpa (made with bambara nut), we should use plant leaves that are traditionally used (Thaumatococcus daniellii). Come to think of it, the past sometimes offer a solution for present problems. Before plastic items were manufactured, what were our ancestors using? How can these items be modified? We can even consider a mass production of natural rubber since it is biodegradable.

https://amarakanu.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/image001.png

Enlightenment and enforcement
People should be enlightened and educated about pollution. They should be taught the causes of pollution, the effects of pollution (on our health and the health of our environment) and ways to end pollution like disposing the right way and only buying what we need and can consume. If these campaigns are successful, more people will value the Earth and dispose the right way. For others who are stubborn, they can be jailed or fined when they dispose anyhow. Companies involved in production of plastic items or items wrapped/contained in plastics should consider the end products of what they are making and should be fined when their products pollute the environment.

Read about a campaign we organized at Rivers state against plastic pollution at Plastic pollution campaign

[img]https://1.bp..com/-uMZVRQ7pywc/WzaO5rTSRtI/AAAAAAAAEUI/fErzX0JGBlkUw4-U1rkw6qAqyGfes8gHQCPcBGAYYCw/s320/Environmental%2Bcampaigns.jpg[/img]

Controlled production rate
Even though the demand for plastics is increasing due to increase of population and discovery of more reusable ways, the rate of production should be controlled by governments or unions of manufacturers. Come to think of this; when there's a will, there's a way. If plastic production is banned, individuals and firms which previously relied on plastics will come up with a way to survive.

Recycling and reusing the plastics already polluting our environment
Now that the hole has been blocked (or is being blocked), we can focus on reusing or recycling the plastics already polluting our environment. This will be more effective in the concluding phase of the battle against plastic pollution than in the starting phase. Why? When we don't reduce the supply of plastics, people who reuse and recycle plastics will find them easily, they won't have to search for them or travel to the remote parts of the oceans where plastics are gathered. They just have to wait for people to throw their wastes away in order to find whatever kind of plastic they are looking for. When other preventive measures are taken before we focus more on reusing and recycling, we'll be sure that these people who recycle will have to search for the plastics therefore cleaning up the environment. Think of this; scavenging is an enterprise you can start with zero capital. You just have to search for a needed waste and supply it to who is willing to pay for it.

Read about the construction of a walkway using plastic bottles, wraps and caps

[img]https://1.bp..com/-iNZ3-Q5LhKA/XR57hmSQNTI/AAAAAAAAEpk/CirXBJFd-iIcJwE6CA_Exrb7kFKWExwugCPcBGAYYCw/s320/IMG_20190622_150758.jpg[/img]

The battle against plastic pollution has taken too much time. Let us permanently end plastic pollution. Thanks for reading this article to the end. Please do well to share your opinion in the comment box below. You can also share the article with your friends and family.

ABC; All Biological Concerns

I hate post like this playing with people's time

fabre4:
Been long since I saw an actually intellectual post on nairaland. Kudos Op
I agree a ban on plastic importation as well as plastic indigenous industries will go a long way. As for recycling I think incentives should be added for those who are able to gather huge amount of plastics. This was the idea indomie used earlier on.

What he listed above isn’t realistic,the only way is proper recycling
Nothing can replace plastic and Infact the case is in uk court right now to lift ban on plastic straw because iron straw killed one blind woman after she fell on it
Nothing can replace plastic it’s just too useful
The Chinese invented plastic bag made from cassava and maize starch but it turned out to be almost the same,it won’t decompose easily
How do you ban bottle water and sachet water ? What do we use after that ?
90% of products are packaged in plastic related materials, how do you ban all these? Even most pen are made of plastic,how do you do it? It’s just impossible
No country is going to be successful banning it
If we look at Paper bag it’s not that useful so there is practically no alternative at the moment

Honestly in Nigeria's current position the best way to solve our plastic problem would be to offer the people money in exchange for every plastic bottle they bring for recycling to any recycling company.
Let's say #50 for every 2 bottles.
With Nigeria outstanding poverty rate you'd be shocked on our streets will immediately get cleared of any plastic and waste.

anonimi:
I looked through your comment and could not find your own concise method of eradicating plastics.
Have you heard that demand creates supply? If the consumers don't desire plastics, will companies make them?
Instead of doing your own bit, you are there undermining another person's contribution. Na so you be? Na so you want take make progress


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I don't blame you. quoting me is the highest feeling of relevance you have had in recent times

Flier:
What he listed above isn’t realistic,the only way is proper recycling
Nothing can replace plastic and Infact the case is in uk court right now to lift ban on plastic straw because iron straw killed one blind woman after she fell on it
Nothing can replace plastic it’s just too useful
The Chinese invented plastic bag made from cassava and maize starch but it turned out to be almost the same,it won’t decompose easily

Truly there may be no viable alternative but ita production can be controlled and use limited.

g

What happens to pure water

fabre4:
Truly there may be no viable alternative but ita production can be controlled and use limited.

Then it’s going to lead to inflation in price of goods and services

Mrjo:
I hate post like this playing with people's time

How is it playing with people's time? Why do you hate it?

Flier:
What he listed above isn’t realistic,the only way is proper recycling
Nothing can replace plastic and Infact the case is in uk court right now to lift ban on plastic straw because iron straw killed one blind woman after she fell on it
Nothing can replace plastic it’s just too useful
The Chinese invented plastic bag made from cassava and maize starch but it turned out to be almost the same,it won’t decompose easily
How do you ban bottle water and sachet water ? What do we use after that ?
90% of products are packaged in plastic related materials, how do you ban all these? Even most pen are made of plastic,how do you do it? It’s just impossible
No country is going to be successful banning it
If we look at Paper bag it’s not that useful so there is practically no alternative at the moment

Is iron the only material for making straws as an alternative to plastic
Before plastics were discovered, what were people using for bags?


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letout:
What happens to pure water

Buy/served into your own water bottle


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Nice piece bro

Elijahrona:
How is it playing with people's time? Why do you hate it?

most of the things you wrote is unnecessary, imagine how many illustrations you gave yet they didn't address the issue

Nobodyperson:
Honestly in Nigeria's current position the best way to solve our plastic problem would be to offer the people money in exchange for every plastic bottle they bring for recycling to any recycling company.
Let's say #50 for every 2 bottles.
With Nigeria outstanding poverty rate you'd be shocked on our streets will immediately get cleared of any plastic and waste.

Brilliant.
Ecobank is doing this already.

Ecobank Nigeria offers cash to Lagos residents for used plastic bottles


https://www.pmnewsnigeria.com/2019/05/16/ecobank-nigeria-offers-cash-to-lagos-residents-for-used-plastic-bottles/

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/D6wkJzrXoAELpqX.jpg

Ban plastic use and save Nigeria

anonimi:
Thanks for your wonderful insight.
So, what do you propose as the practical alternative to the textbook theory please


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Thank you for that question.
The answer isn't far fetched
But unfortunately government of this nation would say they are very broke to fund this idea
If they create industries that manufacture alternative packs made from biogenics, it would take less than 6months to degrade into the soil.
Unlike plastic bottles that takes 50years.
It would generate more employment, and more revenue..
But instead these tricksy gollums would keep our gold for themselves alone.
That makes all our proffered solutions TEXTBOOK

Mrjo:
most of the things you wrote is unnecessary, imagine how many illustrations you gave yet they didn't address the issue

Can you please kindly refer us to your own thread that address the issue?
Thanks.


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Mrjo:
most of the things you wrote is unnecessary, imagine how many illustrations you gave yet they didn't address the issue

Both illustrations are meant to help you understand how to solve the problem through extensive reasoning. They both pointed to the last section "steps to permanently end plastic plain"

pyro62:
Thank you for that question.
The answer isn't far fetched
But unfortunately government of this nation would say they are very broke to fund this idea
If they create industries that manufacture alternative packs made from biogenics, it would take less than 6months to degrade into the soil.
Unlike plastic bottles that takes 50years.
It would generate more employment, and more revenue..
But instead these tricksy gollums would keep our gold for themselves alone.
That makes all our proffered solutions TEXTBOOK

So how do we get ourselves to do what you propose, which is not textbook theory?


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Flier:
What he listed above isn’t realistic,the only way is proper recycling
Nothing can replace plastic and Infact the case is in uk court right now to lift ban on plastic straw because iron straw killed one blind woman after she fell on it
Nothing can replace plastic it’s just too useful
The Chinese invented plastic bag made from cassava and maize starch but it turned out to be almost the same,it won’t decompose easily
How do you ban bottle water and sachet water ? What do we use after that ?
90% of products are packaged in plastic related materials, how do you ban all these? Even most pen are made of plastic,how do you do it? It’s just impossible
No country is going to be successful banning it
If we look at Paper bag it’s not that useful so there is practically no alternative at the moment

That is why we're looking for alternatives. Don't say there are no alternative. Say there is no alternative yet. Imagine how rich you'll become if you discover an alternative... That's positive thinking

Flier:
What he listed above isn’t realistic,the only way is proper recycling
Nothing can replace plastic and Infact the case is in uk court right now to lift ban on plastic straw because iron straw killed one blind woman after she fell on it
Nothing can replace plastic it’s just too useful
The Chinese invented plastic bag made from cassava and maize starch but it turned out to be almost the same,it won’t decompose easily
How do you ban bottle water and sachet water ? What do we use after that ?
90% of products are packaged in plastic related materials, how do you ban all these? Even most pen are made of plastic,how do you do it? It’s just impossible
No country is going to be successful banning it
If we look at Paper bag it’s not that useful so there is practically no alternative at the moment

Research makes the impossible possible and don't forget, we only know in parts. Science does not recognise the word impossible.
Back in the days, who thought making calls will be less than 60 naira per minute in Nigeria......just to streach this narrative a bit further.

Elijahrona:
That is why we're looking for alternatives. Don't say there are no alternative. Say there is no alternative yet. Imagine how rich you'll become if you discover an alternative... That's positive thinking

.....while solving a major problem and improving his society in the process.
So much intelligence from one nairalander.
You try bo.

Nice one

anonimi:
Can you please kindly refer us to your own thread that address the issue?
Thanks.


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Mr smart have you ever think about what will happen if plastic is replaced with green Mr op mentioned in his post