THESIS THE HARMFUL EFFECT OF POLYTHENE & PLASTIC BAGS TO THE ENVIRONMENT AND A REQUISITE FOR BIO-PLASTICS. CASE STUDY LAGOS STATE. SUBMITTED BY PDF

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THESIS THE HARMFUL EFFECT OF POLYTHENE & PLASTIC BAGS TO THE ENVIRONMENT AND A REQUISITE FOR BIO-PLASTICS. CASE STUDY LAGOS STATE. SUBMITTED BY SONAIKE ABAYOMI STEPHEN DEPARTMENT OF ESTATE MANAGEMENT In partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Facility Management Univer...

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THESIS THE HARMFUL EFFECT OF POLYTHENE & PLASTIC BAGS TO THE ENVIRONMENT AND A REQUISITE FOR BIO-PLASTICS. CASE ... stephen sonaike

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THESIS THE HARMFUL EFFECT OF POLYTHENE & PLASTIC BAGS TO THE ENVIRONMENT AND A REQUISITE FOR BIO-PLASTICS. CASE STUDY LAGOS STATE.

SUBMITTED BY

SONAIKE ABAYOMI STEPHEN

DEPARTMENT OF ESTATE MANAGEMENT

In partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Facility Management University of Lagos State Akoka, Yaba, Lagos. 2017.

CHAPTER ONE INTRODUCTION 1.1 BACKGROUND TO THE STUDY According to the International Facility Management Association (IFMA): “FM is the practice of coordinating the physical workplace with the people and work of the organization. It integrates the principles of business administration, architecture and the behavioral and engineering sciences FM covers these two main areas: 'Space & Infrastructure' (such as planning, design, workplace, construction, lease, occupancy, maintenance, furniture and cleaning) and 'People & Organization' (such as catering, ICT, HR, accounting, marketing, hospitality). Sustainability is also an important aspect of FM practice, it deals with conserving and enhancing the community’s resources so that ecological processes on which life depend are maintained and the total quantity of life now and in the future can be increased. “We do not inherit the earth from our ancestor we borrow it from our children” (Iroquois Nation – Sustainability, Facility Management & IFMA 2012), a facility management professionals must focus on ecological sustainable development in areas such as waste reduction, recycling, energy and resource management and other similar strategies. As the demand for environmentally friendly and high performance buildings escalate, it is also essential to study some of the practices in our wider community that currently contribute to an unnatural deterioration of the environment at either local or global levels. This project thus seeks to study the impact of polythene and plastic bags waste on our environment especially as it affect Lagos state. A plastic can either be thermoplastics (made of polymers) or thermosetting (made of synthetic plastic or resin) polymers. A thermoplastic is any polymer that can be shaped and molded as a liquid and remain in that shape as a solid, thermosetting are plastic made of synthetic plastic or P a g e 2 | 14

resin however the major different between the duo is the fact that thermoset resin remain permanently in a rigid state after hardening while thermoplastics can be melted over again or reshaped by the application of heat. Plastic bags belong to the thermoplastics group of materials called polymers and they are essentially Polythene and Polypropylene polymer made by bonding together monomers in a reaction called polymerization. Plastic bags are effective for packaging, waste disposal bags, bulk container, plastic shopping bags, bottles, medical use and food packaging. Plastic bags are lighter, cheaper and more economical than other materials hence the reason for an impressive patronage of the product in Lagos State, also the unique structure of these plastic bags and its properties such as flexibility, elasticity, formability, heat and chemical resistance make its area of application variable and allow for excellent process ability and this also account for the reason for its wide use in various industries. Plastic is composed of various different organic molecules one of which is called Polyethene. Polyethene the recommended scientific name, Polyethylene the IUPAC recommended name based on structure however the most common name is Polythene. Polythene is a type of plastic bags which are of various light thermoplastics materials made from ethylene with properties depending on the molecular weight of the polymer. Polythene is the most commonly used plastic in the world and are mostly made from crude oil by catalytic cracking into gasoline, modification of natural gas (a methane, ethane, propane mix) or non-renewable resources. Polythene is a polymer consisting of long chains of the monomer ethylene linked together by chemical bonds, the ethene or ethylene molecule C2H4 are connected by a double a bond CH2=CH2, with possibility of linking n-number of ethylene molecule, molecular weight can range from several thousands to 1.5million. The properties such as molecular weight, type of branching and crystal structure are the major factors

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to be considered in the classification of polythene. Several types of polythene are available however LLDPE (Linear low-density polyethylene), HDPE (High-density polyethylene), and LDPE (Low-density polyethylene) has the highest proportion in millions of produce plastic bags in our environment today. LDPE (Low-density polyethylene) is a branched polyethylene, they are made by a process called free-radical polymerization. The process uses an initiator molecule like benzoyl peroxide instead of a metal complex. The polymerization starts when the benzoyl peroxide molecules break apart into free radicals. The unpaired electrons of the free radicals attack ethylene's carbon-carbon double bond, forming new free radicals. These then react with other ethylene molecules and so on, forming a chain of single-bonded carbon atoms that grows until the reaction terminates, often when two free radicals join together. Sara 2017. This resulted in extruded materials that offers good corrosion resistance, low moisture permeability, highly flexibility but weak on stiffness, high temperatures and structural strength. LDPE are found in product we use on a daily basis e.g. Plastic bottles, clean rap, sandwich packages, garbage liners, consumer packaging and bags. LLDPE (Linear low-density polyethylene) composes of linear and unbranched chains polyethene, they are produce via a method called Ziegler-Natta vinyl polymerization, and the method uses a transition-metal catalyst, like TiCl3, to initiate polymerization. A slightly thinner than LDPE but with the same strength though characterized by a stretchy consistency is produced. Lower thickness (gauge) films produced typically feel tacky and exhibit a moderate degree of clarity. Generally used for stretch wrap, dry cleaning film, agricultural films and thin newspaper bags. HDPE (High-density polyethylene) a low degree of branching with mostly linear molecules pack together well, so intermolecular forces are stronger than in highly branched polymers that are produce using Ziegler-Natta catalysts. HDPE is a lightweight, relatively transparent, water and P a g e 4 | 14

temperature resistant, although it has tendency to tear easily but because of its high tensile strength is a popular choice for both storing and serving food in take-out and retail, use in restaurants, convenience stores, grocery stores and even in homes for storing and packaging purposes. HDPE is also used for garbage bags, utility bags, T-shirt bags, and laundry bags, among others. Polypropylene polymer bags are characterized by their remarkable chemical strength, resistance highest clarity available and can protect against moisture and vapors. Unlike other bags, polypropylene bags are not breathable and are ideal for retail situations due to their longer shelf life. Polypropylene polymer is also used for food packaging, where items like candies, nuts, herbs and other confectionaries can be easily stored in bags made out of it. These bags are comparatively clearer than others, allowing users enhanced visibility. Polypropylene polymer bags are also great for heat-sealing due to their high melting point, and, like other plastic bags options they are good for food handling. Plastics have been around for more than 100 years and without a doubt, they have been extremely useful, however when you see them blowing around in the streets causing entanglement in animals, clogging up of drainages causing flooding, posing dangers to animals, such as turtles, birds that ingest them or are strangled by them, especially in marine environments where plastic bags resemble jellyfish then you will realized the need to strongly enlighten the masses on the threat posed by plastic bags pollution and the need to adopt a natural polymers in the production of plastic bags as against the use of organic polymers currently being use. The excessive molecular size of plastic is mainly responsible for the resistance of these chemicals to biodegradation and their persistence in soil environment for a long time, their continuous existence however even after disposal is more hazard than an aesthetic nuisance, In 2006, the United Nations Environment Programme estimated that every square mile of ocean contains P a g e 5 | 14

46,000 units of floating plastics. In 2010, there were 265 million tons of plastics produced in the world, 57 million of that in Europe [Plastics Europe, 2010], worldwide from 50 million tonnes p. a. in 1976 to an estimated 330 million tonnes in 2015. Waste recycling, incineration and landfill disposal of plastic product is an alternatives to production of biodegrable plastics however they have their own weaknesses. With the recycling of plastics Lagos state currently has capacity to recycle 18% of the total plastics bags waste generated per day a percentage way to far below average compare to the rate of waste generation, also theirs quality deteriorates, as well as the collection costs can be high. Recycling, of course, improves the utilisation of the material (since we exploit the same material more times), but recycling cannot run indefinitely, which means that we must sooner or later face the waste, which needs will require final treatment. Incinerators are a sensible energy use of the material after we've taken advantage of the other options, but in cases where they are not technologically advanced enough or are incorrectly operated (e.g. combustion at too low temperatures), they can release toxic substances into the environment, the material is biologically quite inert. Biotechnological processes are being developed as an alternative to existing route or to get new biodegradable biopolymers. 20% of solid municipal wastes in US is plastic. These properties have made them popular in many durable or disposable goods and for packaging materials. Polyethylene, polyvinyl chloride, polystyrene is largely used in the manufacture of plastics.

1.2 STATEMENT OF PROBLEMS Plastic pollution is a problem that has truly ‘gone global’. Fragment of plastics have been carried by planetary-scale ocean currents to the remotest corners of the world, including both Arctic and Antarctic wilderness areas. Action is needed at a range of scales to address the degradation of Earth’s oceans and shorelines by plastic debris (Simon Oakes 2010). P a g e 6 | 14

The devastating effect of polythene and plastics bag and its contribution on environmental degradation in Nigeria has become a source of worry to every discerning mind. The Governments has attempted to stop this menace in recent years to no avail, Federal governments instituted multiple institution such as National Environmental Regulations 2009 for sanitation and wastes control, National Environmental Protection Regulation to reduce pollution being generated in Industries and Facilities that generating waste, all these in an effort to curb the treat of waste and especially non-biodegradable waste in Nigeria. In the same vein Lagos state government after the global notoriety as the “dirtiest” city-capital in 1977on account of the heaps of refuse adorning the major roads and waterways at that time, instituted Lagos State Refuse Disposal Board (LSRDB) whose is saddle with responsibilities of environmental sanitation and domestic refuse collection and disposal in the State which now metamorphosed into Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA) with added responsibilities ranging from management of commercial, industrial, and medical waste streams, highway sanitation, cleaning of drainage and other water bodies, to construction and demolition waste management, among others. Programmes and projects have been introduced by Lagos government towards optimizing the waste collection, awareness, city cleaning and collaboration with Private Sector Participation (PSP) in waste collection and management. Considering the recent achievement, ongoing collaboration with private sector and a continuous review of challenges facing the waste collection in Lagos it can be deduced that the war against indiscriminate disposal of waste is almost won however the uncontrolled generation of waste especially non-biodegradable such as plastic bags still continue unabated. Lagos is the most populated city in Africa with over 21 million population (world population review 2017) and the third largest city in the world, Lagos population has risen by 87.5% when compare to 11.2 million population as estimated by United Nation in 2011, within this same period the waste generated per day rises from 10,000MTPD to 14,000MTPD (LAWMA Chairman 2017), waste generated per person per day increase from 0.5kg/person/day to 0.7/person/day while the most disturbing is the increase in plastic generated which increases from 6% of 10,000MTPD (LAWMA 2012) to more than 23% of the current 14,000MTPD (LAWMA 2016). Lagos state waste Management Authority currently collect 45% of the waste generated while the recycling capacity for the state stand at 18%, hence it can be deduce from the above that more than 7,000MTPD of plastic are generated per day of which more than 3,000MTPD are collected at P a g e 7 | 14

various landfill centers where only 567MTPD are recycled while others continue to cause nuisances and hazard to the environment. Plastic bags take between 500 – 1000 years to degrade however 50% of the plastics we use just once and throw away (Ecowatch) hence millions of tons of plastic waste are generated annually, few percentage of this are collected and recycle while the remaining continue to dominate our landfills and many did not even made it to the landfill and due to longer years to degrade and indiscriminate throw away of these plastics bags it is common to find plastics and polythene bags litter every part of the densely populated area in Lagos and during rainy season they make their way into drains, gutters and canals which eventually resulted in flooding, contaminate soil, proliferation of mosquitoes and many of this plastic bags drifting on the ocean for many years creating life-threatening risks to aquatic animals, Turtles, fish and birds are especially vulnerable as this animals can mistake plastic for food which can lead to indigestion or get tangled up in it which can prevent the animal from submerging. Discarded red lids from water bottles can mimic the appearance of the krill shrimp that albatross eat. Autopsies have shown an abundance of redcoloured debris in the gut of dead albatross birds, other risk attached to waste in plastics bags include the strangulation, suffocation or death of animals and birds and even after death and decay of the animals still continue to poses threat to other animals and environment. The impact of chemicals associated with plastic waste is another growing concern in the damage inherent with plastics waste. There are several chemicals within plastic materials itself that have been added to give it certain properties such as Bisphenol A, phthalates and flame retardants which has negative effects on human and animal health, mainly affecting the endocrine system. Plastics are made from monomers which have been linked to cancer and reproductive problems, although it has not been clearly established the level of exposure by plastic waste or by which mechanism the chemicals from plastic may have an impact on humans and animals. The plastic manufacturing is usually characterized with the use and dispose of large amount toxic chemicals. Plastic bags are produced from fossil fuels which include use of non-renewable resources (such as crude oil, gas and coal), its life cycles are greenhouse-gas intensive on the front end due primarily to the use of fossil fuels in their production. A car would be able to drive 11 metres on the amount of petroleum used to make a plastic bag, huge amount of energy usually from fossil fuel sources which therefore adds to the world’s production of greenhouse gases. P a g e 8 | 14

Currently, recycling, landfill and incineration are the three main methods for disposing off plastic waste in Lagos, however each of these method has its own limitations and cannot resolve the root cause of gigantic numbers of plastics currently been produced daily in Nigeria. Recycling for instance is associated with high injury rate, health hazards due to misuse of PET by consumer who a times store chemicals and petroleum products and poor pay package that make the work less attractive and consequently did not pull the necessary numbers of personnel required for sorting at the landfill centers hence the process is relatively expensive and inefficient. On the other hand, landfill methods occupy space that can be used for more productive means, especially in a populous state where accommodation is a challenge and real estate business is at high profit yield rate, unfortunately plastic will not degrade untimed thereby tying down the land for a long period of time, also research as shown by Simon, Olayide and Chinyere 2010 that microbial degradation has proved ineffective in their attempt to biodegrade polythene bags, in the research only 0.5g reduction in weight was achieve in 16weeks when a 25.2g polythene bag was buried and subjected to acid and alkaline treatment while the polythene bag subjected to natural degradation within the same period shows no different in weight. The polythene and plastics bags litter cleanup is very costly and a substantial investment has been made in providing infrastructure, according to PWC report in September 2015, Lagos state government has increased percentage of monthly state recurrent expenditure on waste management from 2.5% in 2005 to 12% in 2011 still this is not sufficient as the government is currently considering handling over the management of waste to Private business and handle the regulatory part. In short, it seems we cannot get rid of load of plastics that we are currently generating hence it seem we are gradually drowning in the loads of plastics that we generated. It is difficult to eliminate plastics even if we consider burning of plastic it will give off toxic chemicals such as dioxins hence the need to Bioplastics bags which take much less time to break down after being discarded and this will help to put an end to plastic dominating our landfills. 1.3 RESEARCH QUESTIONS The research questions for this study are as follows: 1. How much impact has the polythene and plastics bag waste on Lagos environment. P a g e 9 | 14

2. How much polythene and plastics bag waste is recycling and incineration method able to remove from Lagos environment compare to the rate at which the same is been generated. 3. How effective and sustainable is the landfilling method of disposing off Plastic and polythene bags. 4. What are bioplastics, content of bioplastics material and type of bioplastics 5. How effective is the impact of bioplastic in eradicating polythene and plastic bags waste from loads of waste generated in Lagos state. 6. What are the challenges of adopting bioplastics as a method of producing plastic in Lagos 7. What are the potential benefit of adopting bioplastics as the method of producing plastic in Lagos 1.4 AIM AND OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY The aim of this study is to examine the impact of polythene and plastic bags on Lagos environment and show the reason why producing biodegradable plastic is the only way to reduce drastically the current huge polythene and plastic bags waste bei...