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Putting an End to Plastic Pollution: Reflecting on World Environment Day 2025

Each year, on June 5th, World Environment Day serves as a global platform for raising awareness and prompting action on the most pressing environmental challenges of our time. The 2025 theme “Putting an End to Plastic Pollution” could not be more relevant. Although the commemorative day has passed, its core message must remain at the forefront of both public discourse and private behavior. The overwhelming use of plastic, the improper methods of disposal, and our dependence on plastic-stored goods continue to wreak havoc on ecosystems, wildlife, and human health. Now is the time to reflect, re-evaluate, and re-engineer our relationship with plastic before it becomes irreversible.

Understanding Plastic Pollution

Plastic pollution refers to the build-up of synthetic plastic products in the environment, resulting in detrimental effects on wildlife, their habitats, and human populations. Since mass production began in the 1950s, over 9 billion tonnes of plastic have been generated more than 75% of which has turned into waste. The bulk of this waste is not recycled or reused but ends up in landfills, oceans, rivers, or open dumps.

Even worse is the advent of microplastics, which are tiny particles resulting from the breakdown of larger plastics. Microplastics are nearly indestructible and have been found everywhere from Arctic ice to human bloodstreams. Studies now show that humans ingest up to 5 grams of plastic weeklyequivalent to the size of a credit card.

How Our Everyday Actions Contribute

Plastics have become synonymous with modern convenience. We use plastic for nearly everything: packaging, shopping bags, straws, bottles, electronics, clothing, and food storage. Most of these are single-use, used for a few minutes but polluting the planet for centuries.

The troubling reality is that less than 10% of all plastic ever made has been recycled. In countries with limited infrastructure like Nigeria, plastic waste ends up in streets, gutters, waterways, and eventually the ocean. The Lagos State Waste Management Authority (LAWMA) reports that Lagos alone generates over 14,000 metric tonnes of waste daily, a significant portion of which is plastic.

From buying sachet water in plastic pouches to using plastic takeout containers, we contribute daily to a mounting environmental disaster.

The Environmental and Health Consequences

The environmental impact is profound. Rivers and seas are increasingly choked with plastic debris. Animals including turtles, fish, seabirds, and whales mistake plastic for food or become entangled in it, often resulting in death. Coral reefs suffer from smothering and contamination. Agricultural land is polluted with non-biodegradable plastic mulch, which can degrade soil fertility and reduce crop yield.

Burning plastic, a common disposal method in rural and peri-urban areas, releases toxic fumes like dioxins and furans that can cause respiratory diseases, reproductive problems, and even cancer. These toxins also contaminate the air and soil, entering the food chain and threatening human health.

Plastic Pollution and Urban Flooding: A Devastating Link

In recent years, the link between plastic pollution and severe urban flooding has become increasingly evident, especially in developing nations with fragile infrastructure. One of the most visible and damaging consequences of plastic misuse is the blockage of drainage systems. In cities like Lagos, Port Harcourt, and Ibadan, heavy rains quickly turn into destructive floods not just because of high precipitation, but because plastic waste clogs gutters, canals, and stormwater drains.

Sachets, plastic bags, and bottles commonly discarded after single use accumulate rapidly in streets and waterways. These items form floating dams that prevent proper water flow, causing water to back up into roads, homes, and businesses. The economic and health toll of such floods is enormous: property is destroyed, traffic grinds to a halt, waterborne diseases like cholera and typhoid spread, and emergency response efforts are hindered.

According to the Nigerian Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA), over 70% of urban flooding in cities across Nigeria is directly linked to waste-related drainage blockages, with plastic waste accounting for the majority of the obstruction. The cost of cleaning up after floods, repairing infrastructure, and relocating affected families runs into billions of naira annually.

The situation is worsened by the lack of organized waste collection in many communities, leading residents to dump plastic waste into nearby drains or empty plots. Unless this behavior changes and sustainable waste management becomes the norm, cities will continue to drown in preventable disasters.

Plastic Pollution and the Economy

Beyond health and environment, plastic pollution has dire economic implications. According to the UN Environment Programme (UNEP), plastic pollution costs the global economy over $13 billion annually, affecting tourism, fishing industries, and shipping sectors. In developing economies like Nigeria, plastic-choked drainage systems often lead to severe flooding, damaging infrastructure and displacing communities.

Businesses also incur costs in managing plastic waste, either through compliance regulations or clean-up operations. Countries that rely on tourism suffer from the visual blight and health hazards that come with heavily polluted beaches and urban areas.

Global Policy Efforts and Success Stories

The 2025 World Environment Day theme aligns with the ongoing efforts of the United Nations to draft a global legally binding treaty to end plastic pollution. This treaty, set to be finalized by the end of 2025, is expected to mandate countries to reduce plastic production, improve waste management systems, and invest in alternatives.

Several countries have shown what is possible:

Rwanda became the first African country to ban plastic bags in 2008. Today, it is considered one of the cleanest nations in Africa.
Chile banned plastic bags nationwide in 2018.
France has outlawed plastic packaging on most fruits and vegetables and is moving toward fully compostable packaging by 2040.

These examples prove that with political will, enforcement mechanisms, and public support, progress is attainable.

Nigeria’s Situation: Gaps and Opportunities

Despite growing awareness, Nigeria lacks a national policy framework robust enough to address plastic pollution effectively. While some states like Lagos and Ogun have piloted initiatives on recycling and public sensitization, there is still:

No unified ban on single-use plastics.
Limited enforcement of existing waste laws.
Insufficient recycling infrastructure, especially outside major urban areas.
A weak linkage between waste generation and Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR), where producers take responsibility for the lifecycle of their products.

However, the country is not without hope. Grassroots organizations and social enterprises are stepping in:

Wecyclers in Lagos incentivizes recycling through a rewards-based model.
RecyclePoints enables users to exchange recyclable waste for cash or household items.
Sustyvibes works with youth to promote sustainability and plastic-free lifestyles.

Corporate Innovation and Green Alternatives

As demand for sustainable solutions grows, so does innovation in plastic alternatives. Corporations are now under pressure to rethink their packaging and production models. Some developments include:

Edible packaging made from seaweed and cassava.
Plant-based plastics like PLA (polylactic acid), derived from corn starch.
Reusable delivery systems, including refilling stations for groceries and toiletries.

Major corporations have committed to circular economy strategies:

Nestlé aims to make 100% of its packaging recyclable or reusable by 2025.
Unilever has pledged to halve its use of virgin plastic by 2025.
Dell Technologies incorporates recycled plastics into its packaging.

What We Can Do as Individuals

Ending plastic pollution requires collective and individual commitment. Here’s how individuals can make a difference:

Say no to single-use plastics: Always carry a reusable water bottle, straw, and shopping bag.
Be a conscious consumer: Support brands that offer sustainable packaging and zero-waste alternatives.
Practice the 5 Rs: Refuse, Reduce, Reuse, Repurpose, Recycle.
Sort and separate waste: Know the difference between recyclable and non-recyclable plastics.
Engage others: Share information, initiate clean-up campaigns, and hold policymakers accountable.

Simple acts, when multiplied by millions of people, can transform the planet.

Empowering Youth and Communities

Young people are at the forefront of the battle against plastic pollution. Across Nigeria and the globe, youth-led initiatives are building momentum:

The Plastic Free Campus Challenge engages schools and universities in reducing plastic waste.
The Trash for Education model in Nigeria allows students to pay school fees through collected waste.
Tech platforms like eTrash2Cash connect households with waste collectors to promote recycling and income generation.

These examples highlight how communities can be empowered through education, innovation, and incentives.

A Call for Coordinated Action

Solving the plastic crisis requires a whole-of-society approach. Governments must create and enforce legislation that discourages single-use plastics. Schools must embed environmental education into their curricula. The private sector must design for sustainability, and communities must build local solutions that work.

Most importantly, the conversation must not end with World Environment Day. Each of us has a role to play whether as educators, consumers, activists, or policymakers. The next time you reach for a plastic bag, think of the blocked drain, the flooded street, the poisoned fish, and the child inhaling fumes from burning plastic. Let that awareness shape your decisions.

 

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