31 Jul World Environment Day
The 2018 event, tagged “Beat Plastic Pollution” was celebrated at two SCCs: Olive Branches School, Osogbo and St. Anthony’s High School, Ikoyi, both in Osun State. Ademola Ajayi, who is the Forest Center Environmental Educator, gave a brief presentation on the adverse effects of plastic pollution on biodiversity. He encouraged students to refuse plastics if they could not reuse it.
At the Olive Branches School, about 100 students attended and displayed items made from plastic bags: hand bags, vases; raincoats, tire inflators. St. Anthony’s High School was the newest SCC, and the event provided the opportunity to personally meet with the students. The event was attended by 23 students, the SCC coordinator for the school, four representatives of the Emerald Forest Reserve, and four Forest Center staff.
Which school will be our next host?
Group photo of students during the World Environment Day, 5 June 2018. Photo O. Olubodun.
What is plastic pollution?
Plastic pollution is the accumulation of plastic products in the environment that adversely affects wildlife, habitats, and humans.
Facts about plastic pollution
- A plastic bottle takes almost 1000 years to degrade.
- A fishing line will take about 600 years to degrade.
- A foamed plastic cup will take about 50 years to degrade.
- Plastic waste chokes marine animals.
- Recycling is one of the main ways of mitigating plastic pollution