The term “plastic pollution” describes the buildup of plastic items in the environment, which has a negative impact on people, wildlife, and wildlife habitat. The extensive usage of plastic materials and poor waste management techniques have worsened the worldwide problem.
There are several sources of plastic pollution throughout the world. Straws, bottles, bags, and packaging materials are examples of single-use plastics that are frequently used just once before being thrown away. Plastic debris may enter the environment as a result of manufacturing activities’ industrial waste. Illegal dumping, poor recycling systems, and littering are examples of improper disposal techniques that greatly exacerbate the issue.
Products made with plastic also affect the environment. Animals may consume plastic or become entangled in it, which could cause harm or even death. They disturb the ecosystem as well. because plastics have the potential to change habitats and disrupt ecosystem equilibrium, especially in marine environments. Furthermore, plastics have the potential to release toxic substances into the land and water, which can have an impact on human health and wildlife.
To reverse the detrimental effects of plastic pollution, numerous countries around the world have issued proclamations to propose solutions and mitigating measures. As a result, they are advocating the elimination of single-use plastics through bans or alternative solutions. They also support recycling and upcycling methods, as well as the upcycling of plastics. They also promote public awareness. Educating communities on the effects of plastic pollution and how to reduce it. More importantly, they are enacting legislation that limits plastic manufacture and usage while encouraging sustainable behaviors.
Furthermore, there are international efforts to prevent plastic pollution. For example, numerous groups and governments are collaborating to tackle plastic pollution through initiatives such as international treaties to reduce plastic waste, community clean-up programs, biodegradable material innovations, and so on. This suggests that combating plastic pollution involves a multidimensional approach that includes individuals, communities, corporations, and governments to develop long-term solutions.
Ethiopia has also been combating plastic pollution. The country has been engaging in a variety of measures to prevent plastic pollution. The Solid Waste Management and Disposal Proclamation No. 1383/2017 is one of the country’s measures to combat plastic pollution. This proclamation puts various measures to combat plastic pollution across the country.
Ethiopian Environmental Authority Environmental Laws and Standards Head Wondwossen Tadesse stated that plastic waste has increased due to both production and imports. For example, in 2022, Ethiopia exported plastic valued at 13.6 million US dollars. As a result, both the manufacture and import of plastics pollute the environment.
The country is therefore compelled to prepare a proclamation that bans the importation and manufacture of plastic. According to Solid Waste Management and Disposal Proclamation No. 1383/2017, extended producer responsibility was mandated under Article 5. Accordingly, the producer bears responsibility for their plastic goods up to the point in the product life cycle that occurs after the customer.
Furthermore, the proclamation stated that when a company produces or imports plastic products, they have to use low-impact product designs, minimize the quantity of solid waste produced during production, set up a system for collecting and recycling products at the end of their useful lives, and cover the costs, he added.
Article 12, which deals with bottles, cans, and plastic water containers, states that city governments shall designate temporary storage areas for waste bottles, cans, or plastic containers and collect them on a regular basis. It also stipulated that bottles, cans, and plastic containers must be designed to be reusable and recyclable.
Single-use plastic is likewise covered by Article 13. It refers to plastic products that are used just once before being thrown away. They are neither recyclable nor reusable. Hence, it is illegal to manufacture, market, import, sell, store, or use single-use plastic. More significantly, the Authority will oversee the application of this Proclamation’s single-use plastics provisions and take appropriate corrective measures where necessary, he explained.
According to Ethiopian Environmental Protection, Urban Waste Management and Disposal Desk Head Wasihun Alamu said that single-use plastic products account for half of the annual plastic manufacturing that occurs worldwide. Plastic, however, is harmful to human health and is poisonous. Since plastics include more than 16,000 chemicals, many of which are dangerous for both the environment and mankind. Besides, 4,200 plastic chemicals as considered “highly hazardous.”
Hence, the proclamation is crucial to reversing the current course of the global and national plastic pollution disaster. Although the usage of plastics is predicted to double in wealthier nations, it might nearly triple globally. The biggest increases are anticipated in growing economies in Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa, he indicated.
Plastic waste is also expected to nearly triple by 2060, with half of it still being landfilled and less than a fifth recycled. Furthermore, plastic leakage into the environment is expected to quadruple to 44 million tonnes (Mt) per year, while the accumulation of plastics in aquatic habitats would more than triple, worsening environmental and health consequences. Accordingly, Ethiopia’s plastic trash proportion could reach 28-30%. As a result, in addition to other measures, preparing a proclamation to reverse plastic waste is a sensible move for Ethiopia.
He highlighted that plastic pollution is a major environmental concern in Ethiopia, as it is in many other regions of the world. The country’s use of plastic has increased, particularly single-use plastics, which contribute to pollution in both urban and rural areas. As a result, in addition to formulating proclamations to limit and monitor plastic pollution, the country is implementing a variety of attempts to reverse it.
Indeed, Ethiopia has implemented various measures to fight plastic waste, including a ban on plastic bags. This year, Ethiopia banned single-use plastic bags. This was a huge step toward reducing plastic waste and encouraging the use of environmentally acceptable alternatives.
The government, particularly the Ethiopian Environmental Authority, is also actively working on awareness creation campaigns under the Clean and Green Ethiopia initiative. The country, in partnership with stakeholders, has launched several programs to educate the public about the effects of plastic pollution and promote recycling and responsible waste management practices. Besides, some organizations collect and process plastic waste into usable items.
Moreover, several community-led clean-up efforts have been organized across the country to remove plastic waste from streets, rivers, and other public areas. In addition, the country supports alternative materials. Efforts are being undertaken to promote the use of biodegradable materials and other sustainable alternatives to plastics in a variety of sectors.
In general, plastic pollution is a major challenge in Ethiopia. Hence, the country issued a proclamation to reverse the negative impacts of plastic pollution. Therefore, stakeholders, in keeping with government efforts, should fulfill their duties through ongoing education, policy enforcement, and awareness-creation activities. These measures are essential to halting the nation’s plastic pollution trend and fostering a healthier environment for coming generations.
BY EPHREM ANDARAGCHEW
THE ETHIOPIAN HERALD WEDNESDAY 16, July 2025
