World Environment Day: FAAN seeks policy to reduce plastic waste at airports
Plastic
By Adekunle Williams and Solomon Asowata
Lagos, June 5, 2018 (NAN) The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) on Tuesday called for the enactment of a policy to enforce recycling of plastics generated at airports, to create a sustainable environment.
The Managing Director, FAAN, Mr Saleh Dunoma, made the call at a programme held to commemorate the 2018 World Environment Day (WED) in Lagos.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the theme of the event is “Beat Plastic Pollution’’.
Dunoma said that an appropriate policy would reduce the increasing plastic waste at the airport environment and in the country.
According to him, though airports do not produce plastic products, they, however, provide avenues for generation of plastic products in form of facilities as well as selling of items packed in plastic containers.
Dunoma, who was represented by the Director, Environmental Services, FAAN, Mr Daura Salisu, said these contribute to the plastic waste generation in the immediate and larger environment.
“Large chunks of industrial and consumer products are either made up of plastic materials or packed in plastic containers.
“This ranges from water in plastic bottles, chemicals in plastic containers, plastic keyboards, plastic computer monitors, plastic carriage bags and plastic buckets.
“The wastes generated after using products made of plastic materials or packed in plastic containers are not only problem for the earth; they are also bad for our health and ecology.
“Beyond this, plastics constitute a lot more environmental hazards,’’ he said.
Dunoma said the evidence of plastic waste in Nigeria could not be disputed, adding that the aim of the UN on this year’s theme was to create awareness on its effects.
He said “Available statistics show everyone’s contributions to this challenge. Only one sector could not have been responsible for the over 200,000 metric tonnes of plastic waste that find their way into the water bodies every year in the country.
“Only one sector could not have been responsible for the ranking of Nigeria as one of the top 20 countries with the worst plastic waste management. The statistics and physical evidences speak for themselves.
“However, the aim of a forum like this is not to spend all the time to dwell on the problems, but on how to reduce the statistics by proffering far reaching solutions and attract commitment from all stakeholders.’’
Also speaking, the Director General, Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Capt. Muhtar Usman, said the scale of use of plastic products had increased massively in aviation environment over the years and had caused massive pollution.
Usman, represented by Mrs Oyetoun Adegbesin, Deputy General Manager (Air Transport), NCAA, said it was a fact that one of the challenges often faced by airports was in the area of waste management with plastics being a major pollutant.
“However, many airports are now committed to continually improving the environment by putting in place effective waste management system to prevent pollution.
“Airports are also working with airlines to ensure proper handling of recyclable materials coming off aircraft, including plastic materials.
“The cost of removing these pollution has proved to be very prohibitive and fines for littering have proved difficult to enforce,’’ he said.
Usman said solutions to the problem of plastic pollution at the airports should be focused on preventing improper disposal or even on limiting the use of certain plastic items at aviation environment.
According to him, it is therefore imperative that all aviation stakeholders and passengers should assist in putting an end to plastic waste with simple acts like using reusable water bottle.
Usman commended the initiative, which was created to raise worldwide awareness about the state of the environment and to generate local actions necessary to ensure global sustainability of the environment.
He added that this had since grown to become a global outreach widely celebrated in over 100 countries.
NAN reports that the World Environment Day is commemorated annually on June 5, to create awareness for sustaining the environment.
(NAN)
WAC/ASO/CHOM/IFY
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Edited by Ify Omowole