WASTE TIME ON WASTE

In recent times, especially the aftermath of the unfortunate flood and fire incident, we as a people have come to appreciate the need for attitudinal change. Day to day, we walk past several heeps of waste on our streets, neighbourhood or even workplaces. As a people we have wasted too much time on complaining about the ills in society and i want to suggest that we waste time instead on waste. 
Waste recycling has been recommened by several experts as one of the ways to solve Ghana's increasing and worsening sanitation situation. What is recycling then? Recycling is a process to change waste materials into new products to prevent waste of potentially useful materials, reduce the consumption of fresh raw materials, reduce energy usage, reduce air pollution (from incineration) and water pollution (from landfilling).Though Ghana has not banned plastics, governments over the years have taken some steps to curb the plastic menace. For instance in 1996, the government tasked the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) to explore the feasibility of a plastic recycling programme in the country.



RECYCLING- THE OBVIOUS WAY TO GO IN SOLVING OUR SANITATION ISSUES.
I think the first thing to do as a country if we really mean business in solving the issue of sanitation is the formulate and enact a law just like our brothers in Japan have and this first step is very important to encourage and serve as a road map for a cleaner Ghana. The following are the reasons why we must recycle/ why we must waste time on waste:
1. Good for our economy
American companies rely on recycling programs to provide the raw materials they need to make new products.

2. Creates jobs
Recently my boss at work received a book from a friend in Japan which was a recycled product. Today whilst we face unemployment challenges, jobs can be created in this sector to cater for the employment deficit.

3. Reduces waste
The average American discards seven and a half pounds of garbage every day. Most of this garbage goes into to landfills, where it's compacted and buried.

4. Good for the environment
Recycling requires far less energy, uses fewer natural resources, and keeps waste from piling up in landfills.

5. Saves energy
Recycling offers significant energy savings over manufacturing with virgin materials. Manufacturing with recycled aluminum cans uses 95% less energy.

6. Preserves landfill space
No one wants to live next door to a landfill. Recycling preserves existing landfill space.

7. Prevents global warming
In 2000, recycling of solid waste prevented the release of 32.9 million metric tons of carbon equivalent (MMTCE, the unit of measure for greenhouse gases) into the air.

8. Reduces water pollution
Making goods from recycled materials generates far less water pollution than manufacturing from virgin materials.

9. Protects wildlife
Using recycled materials reduces the need to damage forests, wetlands, rivers and other places essential to wildlife.

10. Creates new demand

Recycling and buying recycled products creates demand for more recycled products, decreasing waste and helping our economy.
(Source:http://nrcrecycles.org/)


LETS WASTE TIME ON WASTE! AND MAKE SOME MONEY! 
The cleaner our streets and homes, the safer we become.

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