Physical Planners Association calls for school-centered approach in talking plastic pollution

By Christopher Tetteh

Odomase, Bono, June 11, GNA – The Local Government Service Association of Physical Planners (LOGSAP) has called for a basic school-centered approach in tackling the plastic pollution menace in the country.

Mrs Gifty Nyarko, the National Interim President of the Association who made the call underscored the need to integrate ‘student-led plastic waste separation project and greening competitions’ in basic schools.

That will whip the interest of school children to contribute to tackling plastic waste pollution in their localities, she told the Ghana News Agency (GNA) in an interview at Odomase in the Sunyani West Municipality.

Mrs Nyarko who is also the Head of Physical Planning Department of the Sunyani West Municipal Assembly and the Sunyani Zonal Secretary of the Ghana Institute of Planners (GIP).

She said inculcating plastic pollution free concepts into basic schools remained essential in the fight against the menace and called on the country to hold plastic manufacturing companies and importers responsible for them to invest in plastic waste recycling.

Mrs Nyarko said plastic pollution was a burden for the nation and called for effective collaboration to tackle the problem.

Mrs Nyarko said plastic waste and pollution threatened planning and development “because of their devastating effects from choked drains in cities to polluted rivers and unsanitary conditions in growing settlements”.

She said: “plastic pollution disrupts drainage systems, compromises infrastructure development and ultimately undermines sustainable growth” and urged professionals in the physical planning space to remain at the forefront of intensified public education on the effects of plastic pollution.

“We must also try households and businesses to segregate their waste and adopt habits that reduce single-use plastics and encourage recycling initiatives”, Mrs Nyarko said.

She called for urgent action to tackle plastic pollution in the country, saying “our land is our legacy and let’s protect it together”.

GNA

Edited by Dennis Peprah and Edward Nana Asare