A quick glimpse of the plastic soup we have cooked.
We are at a crisis point.
Plastics have entered the fossil records. This means that the current geological epoch is being shaped by plastic waste.
It will take roughly around 450 years for plastic bottles1 to break down in the environment.
Scientists recently found up to 1.9 million microplastic concentrations in the Tyrrhenian Sea2 covering just 1 square meter near the seafloor — the greatest quantity yet reported.
A study3 in 2017 estimates that 8.3 billion tons of plastics have been produced to date (since 1950s), and about 79% are still in the environment.
Urban poor men risk injury and drowning to swim in the heavily polluted Korle Lagoon — float alongside human remains sometimes — to recover recyclable plastics, which they sell for around $0.17 per kilo.
Ghana’s urban waterways are chocked with single-use plastics — unbranded plastic takeaway food boxes, water bottles, pure water plastic bags, shopping bags, etc.
According to a UNDP report, Ghana generates around 1 million tonnes of plastic waste each year. Only about 5% are recycled. The rest accumulates in the environment, with roughly 23% ending up in the ocean.
Ghana is facing a severe plastic waste crisis.
The plastic waste which ends up in the ocean threatens marine life.
The video below reveals what we have done to our environment, and why we must act quickly.
Video: Effects of Plastic Pollution in Ghana
The above video shows single-use plastic waste floating on the surface of the Korle Lagoon in Agbogbloshie, Accra, Ghana, as some of the plastics head for the ocean. Fed by the Odaw River, the Korle Lagoon links to the Gulf of Guinea, the northeasternmost part of the tropical Atlantic Ocean.
Visit the link below to read more about Ghana’s plastic pollution problems:
Fish processors in Ghana trade-off between their livelihoods and exposure to cancer-causing toxicants such as PAHs. Climate-related shocks, overfishing, and other human activities are also shaping the mobility of migrant fishers.
Hi, Muntaka Chasant here. I'm, among many other things, an entrepreneur and a documentary photographer. I'm here on the front lines of urban struggle — only with my wits and cameras — capturing key moments, collecting untold stories, and helping to forge new paths.
Leave a comment below to join the conversation Cancel reply
All photos & text on Muntaka.com are copyrighted. Do not copy or reuse without permission.
We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it.Ok
Pingback
Pingback
Pingback