Idenau: BIR elements intercept 5 million contraband plastic bags
Over 5 million non-biodegradable plastic papers have been seized from smugglers by elements of the Rapid Intervention Battalion, BIR, in Idenau, Fako Division of the South West region.
The operation was led by the South West Regional Delegate for the Environment and Nature Protection, Set Ekwadi Sonque, who noted that the origin of the contraband plastic bags is unknown and the chemical content is very toxic.
This, the delegate notes, is harmful both to the environment and human health especially because many people use the non-biodegradable plastics to store food and other consumables.
Such plastic papers, the delegate adds, are incinerated or recycled to meet the required quality.
The region’s environment boss also reminded that these non-biodegradable plastics when not disposed of properly, can cause pollution (air, land and water), block drains, harm animals, reduce soil fertility and also cause ecological imbalance and even death of cattle due to ingestion of plastics among others.
Health experts have warned never to reheat food in plastic container, emphasizing that reheating or cooking food in a plastic container (even if it is marked microwave safe), is not safe as the plastic, when heated, releases a certain kind of chemical which will further leak into the food changing its genetic components.
