The Gambia is the smallest country in Africa, which has a population of more than 2.8 million people and a 80 km of coastline. Known as the Smiling Coast of Africa, it is a popular tourist destination which is becoming a more desirable place to visit. However, the increase in plastic pollution can be seen everywhere. The beaches used to be beautiful and pristine, yet sadly, are now covered with ghost nets, discarded clothing, plastic bags, straws, bottles and packaging etc..
It has been estimated that in 2050 there will be more plastic in the ocean than fish, which is a terrifying reality. With so much plastic in the ocean, breaking down into smaller fragments, microplastics dominate the water. Microplastics are confused as food by fish, meaning they have a shorter lifespan, and if fish are consuming plastic, then that means we are too! With The Gambia’s main source of food being fish, it is vital we become more conscious of plastic consumption, we need fish and we need them to be plastic-free.
Why is plastic so damaging?
It is bad for our health, causing nasty diseases which can be life-threatening, such as;
- Malaria from littering plastic in the streets and communities
- Cancer by consuming and breathing plastic
- Infertility from chemical additives being released
Made out of war
- Plastic is made out of crude oil, a raw material we are running out of in the next few decades
- Too much interest in a finite raw material leads to war and hunger
Harmful to the environment
- One million seabirds, thousands of fish, and plenty marine mammals such as; whales and turtles die every year due to consuming plastic
- Coral reefs are dying due to chemical leaching
- Toxic chemicals are released when plastic is burned, causing air pollution
- Biodiversity is threatened when plastic debris floats across the oceans, and species are transported to other parts of the world, causing invasive species
These shocking facts are just some of the detrimental problems the world is facing due to plastic pollution. In such a small country like The Gambia, just think of how the environment, livelihoods and health are being affected by plastic. That’s why we truly believe it is time to do something about it, and recycle plastic into valuable products. Turning pollution into a solution, that will reduce disease and poverty and create a sustainable future for us all.
Precious Plastic Gambia 