LAST year’s celebration of World Environment Day tagged “BEAT PLASTIC POLLUTION” was to draw the attention of the world to the urgent need to address the menace of plastic pollution and the danger of plastic pollution to our environment. However, the Forestry Research Institute of Nigeria (FRIN) has demonstrated its capacity to reuse, reduce and recycle plastic wastes using a variety machines and process to produce useful products from the waste.
Plastic pollution is the accumulation of plastics in the environment that adversely affects plant, animal and human life. The chemical nature of most plastics means that they are resistant to natural processes of degradation and as a result they decompose very slowly. The issue of plastic pollution has gained global attention in recent times, as plastic waste was also the main focus of World Ocean Day in 2018. The event drew attention over the state of water bodies in the globally and in the country as it relates to plastic pollution.
The fact that recycling is not done as it should is a major reason why plastic pollution has attained global notoriety. This is more so as the world population increases so does the menace of plastic pollution.
Reports have it that in Nigeria, an estimated 50 billion plastic bags are used annually and is mainly disposed wrongly.
Nigeria is on the United Nations (UN) list of top 10 biggest plastics polluters.
In his lead paper presentation on plastic pollution at the recent Annual Conference of the Institute of Ecology and Environmental Studies, at Ile Ife, Dr Adepoju Adeshola, Director-General of FRIN, showcased the solutions FRIN currently employs to mollify plastic pollution.
He stated that: “Plastic waste that causes plastic pollution is a good resource in Forestry Research Institute of Nigeria (FRIN).
“The Forest Product Development and Utilisation (FPD & U) of the Institute has through research, successfully recycled as well as integrated plastic waste into wood product for the production of various items among which are ceiling board; wall and floor tiles, indoor and outdoor chairs, knife and spoon handle and, polythene pots for seedlings production. The polythene pots used in the nursery for raising seedlings are today produced in the Institute.”
Dr Adepoju stated that the machines available in the institute used for the processing of plastic waste into wood plastic products are the wet grinder, extruder, pelletiser and the injection polymer moulding machine.
“The waste materials are put in the wet grinder which grinds them into plastic powder and from there the powder is mixed with saw dust and poured into the extruder.
“The extruder turns them into a compounding material in form of a rope.
“This rope like compound called WPC strands is now put into the pelletiser machine which cuts them into pellets.
“These wood plastic pellets are now used to produce the ceiling board, wall and floor tiles using the injection moulding machine,” the DG explained
He added that the government can play its role by banning the manufacture of such plastic bags and putting in place policies that promote a clean environment.
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