Kenyan Researchers Warn Against Plastics Recycling

By Jean Pierre Afadhali

Kenyan environment experts have warned the public against the use of recycled plastics saying they contain a higher level of toxic chemicals that are harmful to the human, animal and environment health.

Environmentalists said recycled plastics are more toxic than the virgin constituents, reported People Daily, a private-owned newspaper.

Many plastic industries including fossil fuel, petrochemical and consumer goods companies are advocating for plastic recycling as the best possible solution to the global plastic pollution crisis.

Kenya late last year, hosted the talks to end global plastic pollutions, but they ended without a significant achievement.

The third session of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee to develop an international legally binding instrument on plastic pollution, including in the marine environment (INC-3), concluded in  November last year  in Nairobi, without major agreement, but participants agreed on a starting point for negotiations at the fourth session (INC-4).

According to People Daily, Pumwani University Associate Professor in the department of environmental science who was addressing journalists and one of the researchers, Prof Bernads Okeyo said the toxicity of plastic increases while recycling.

“For decades recycling has been used as the best option in the reducing the quantity of plastics materials in the environment but in terms of chemical pollution and toxicity, they are more harmful than the virgin constituencies,” Okeyo was quoted as saying.

He said plastics have no place in the circular economy, adding the best possible way to manage plastic pollution is to massively reduce plastic production.

“I am advising residents to stop taking hot tea using plastic utensils or burning plastic waste under normal temperature instead they should set aside the waste and let it be collected by the county designated workers who have incineration structures for burning such waste materials,” said okeyo.

In 2017, Kenya passed a law banning single-use plastic bags, while Rwanda enforced a total ban on single-use plastics. Recently Somalia joined its East African peers in the fight against plastic pollution by imposing a ban on single-use plastics.

According to The Pumwani University don, plastics are responsible for a wide range of health impacts including cancer and birth defects.

He added plastics production workers are at high risks of those diseases.

“These workers suffer silently and majority are at high risks of diseases such as brain breast cancer, leukemia and decreased fertility,” added Okeyo.

Meanwhile, Moses Ndirangu, an expert in microplastics and lecturer at Pumwani University said a number of residents living adjacent and wastes disposal sites suffer cases such as premature birth, low birth weight, asthma, child leukemia and lung cancer.

He recommended that global plastic be implemented and fully executed to control manufacturers and the use of plastics so as to reduce environment health impacts.

United Nations Environment Programme says “Plastic pollution can alter habitats and natural processes, reducing ecosystems' ability to adapt to climate change, directly affecting millions of people's livelihoods, food production capabilities and social well-being.”