The Gambia has unveiled an ambitious 10-year National Action Plan to reduce plastic pollution by 86%, addressing a crisis that has long plagued the country. The plan, developed in partnership with the UK’s Common Seas, includes banning single-use plastics, improving waste infrastructure, and raising public awareness. However, implementation challenges, including funding gaps, enforcement issues, and reliance on informal waste economies, remain. The initiative has attracted its fair share of critics with environmental advocates like Lamin Jassey expressing skepticism about its success. They cite past failures of similar initiatives as the reason for their skepticism. With 84% of its plastic waste improperly managed, The Gambia generates nearly 23,000 tons of waste annually. For the plan to succeed, many believe the country has to balance environmental goals with economic realities, particularly for impoverished communities, while targeting upstream solutions to reduce plastic production.
SOURCE: THE GUARDIAN
