GOV’T TO RAISE AWARENESS ABOUT THE DANGER OF PLASTICS
He laid off people’s fears regarding petrochemicals, saying petrochemicals are beyond plastic and not even equal to plastics, but a lot of things.
By Flavia Ajok
HOIMA: The Government of Uganda is to start a massive drive on plastic danger awareness across the country to curb the increasing plastic pollution.
In an exclusive interview with this publication, Isaac Ntuju, the Principal Environment Inspector in the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA), revealed that one of the measures the government has put in place to curb plastic pollution is to have a massive drive to sensitize the general public on its dangers.
Ntuju also said there is a particular section in the Ugandan law speaking specifically on plastic, adding that in 2007, Uganda banned the use of plastic bags below 30 microns in thickness, and in 2021, Uganda also prohibited the use of some plastics, including polythene bags.
‘’In 2007, Uganda banned the use of plastic bags below 30 microns in thickness, and in 2021, Uganda also prohibited the use of some plastics, including polythene bags,’’ he added.
Section 76(4) of the Ugandan law addresses plastic pollution and bans the manufacturing, distribution, sale, and disposal of certain plastic products.
However, Ntuju laid off people’s fears regarding petrochemicals, saying petrochemicals are beyond plastic and not even equal to plastics, but a lot of things.
Paul Mulindwa from the civil society organization explains that the government needs to come up with more turf policies to address where these plastics are coming from and also halt their use.
‘’The government needs to come up with more turf policies to address where these plastics are coming from and also halt their use,’’ he said.
The Nwoya LCV Chairperson, Emmanuel Orach, said that every year the country disposes of 219 metric tons of plastic waste, saying this could be the reason the country is grappling with high causes of cancer and heart diseases, hence a lot still needs to be done.
‘’Every year the country disposes of 219 tons of plastic waste, saying this could be the reason the country is grappling with high causes of cancer and heart diseases, hence a lot still needs to be done,’’ he added.
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