What are the common obstacles to reducing single-use plastic? 🥤

[Tony]

Lack of political will and enforcement in spite of the ban on single use carrier bags in supermarkets in Uganda

[Jo]

Are there any other rules, for example for tourism businesses or nothing yet?

[Jane Goldring]

No rules as yet.

[Jeffrey]

There is now the beginnings of a global plastics treaty negotiation process, which may lead to new rules.

[Alberta]

Breakables are more expensive

Single use plastics are use as re-usables and lightweight

Companies can’t force individuals to stop the use of plastics

[Anne]

Yes, it’s true that breakables are more expensive but high chance it’s cheaper on the long-term. Using reusables helps reduce our waste and negative impact on the environment.

As for your last comment about that companies can’t force individuals to stop the use of plastics – companies don’t have to. It’s not about forcing to stop someone use of plastics, it’s simply offering a (more sustainable) alternative. There are many travellers already reducing their plastic use as well, so it should be seen as an improvement.

[Jane Goldring]

The main issue with plastic, especially bottles is that there are no recycling collection for facility points around Uganda for them, especially up country areas which are also the tourist areas. Unless someone can enlighten me?

[Yvonne]

@Jane Goldring and @tony-ofungi very true. No rubbish collection bin at all is another problem. Plus too many hotels still insist on the small plastic bottles.

But i saw that at Carrefour they take glass bottles back. This would be a start for recycling. In Germany for example people are encouraged to give bottles back by paying them a small fee so other people just collect bottles and make small income out of it.

[Conrad]

The common obstacles here in Uganda is mind set is number one. Someone will buy say water and just throw a bottle anywhere without thinking. We see this happen a lot bottles flying from the windows of moving cars. And then now no collecting centers as said earlier not even just collecting bins in shops very rare in Uganda.

[Jo]

Thanks for the insight Conrad. Do you see obstacles within operational areas of businesses too or it is more mindset and behaviour of the consumers of the plastic?

[Tony]

Its pathetic Recently I had had to stop and pick up a bottle that my own cousin I was travelling with had flung out the window in Budongo Forest

[Anne]

Setting the right example is often the first and easiest step for others to copy good behaviour. Well done for stopping @tony-ofungi !

[Jo]

Oh dear, I agree with Anne, setting a good example is so important, it can be frustrating but if we carry on, our behaviour does rub off on others. Here’s to continued determination!

[Nelson]

Here mindset is a big problem: In trading centers near tourist attractions have so many plastic garbage; the general population thinks it is okay to dump plastics and Companies that manufacture these products have not figured in the sustainability use of plastics. The message about single use plastics should be clear across the board.

[Anne]

Definitely @mugisha-nelson – do you have thoughts how the tourism industry (and you as tour operators) can contribute to sharing the message?

[Adam]

Plastic bottle audits to identify which companies are most responsible for littering. In this way the big companies take up responsibility to control littering or help in the clean up process.

[Anne]

Great idea!

[Samantha]

Need to educate people with explaining alternatives available. In many aspects sustainable practices provides positive impact for all.

[Anne]

What kind of alternatives do you offer your customers?

[Priscilla]

Hello Anne ,we are planning to have at least water dispensers in the conference

Hall or restaurant and start spreading the word about the benefits of not using plastic and start using reusable containers plus disposinf off waste using deisgnateded containers.

[Priscilla]

Lack of political will and general lack of knowledge about the dangers of single use plastic by the general public at large ,investing in capacity building about the dangers of single use plastic may be one of the solutions to reduction of plastic pollution

[Anne]

Raising awareness and focusing on capacity building is a good idea, how can you contribute to this?

[Priscilla]

By joining informal and formal groups who have taken it upon themselves to collect plastics and recycle them or make use of them through craft maling plus giving a youth group space at my business premises where they are making use of these collected plastics and turning them into other products that they can sell and earn some money.

They are making use of some of the car tyres that are not in use any more so were disposed off and now we are trying to put them at good use

[Anne]

Great, thank you for sharing!

[Tony]

Note that it is also possible to have plastics that are reusable and therefore environmentally sustainable ,hence the specification of the term ‘single use’ . The distinction is in the grammage because the less the grammage the more difficult it is to recycle .

[Anne]

Very good point Tony! Plastic is a great product and lasts for years. You can use it with the intention to use the product for years. The main issue with plastic is the use of single-use plastic being used on a large scale (and often incorrectly disposed).

[Priscilla]

Hello Anne ,we are planning to have at least water dispensers in the conference

Hall or restaurant and start spreading the word about the benefits of not using plastic and start using reusable containers plus disposinf off waste using deisgnateded containers.

[Anne]

Great initiative to reduce plastic and raise awareness!

[Divine]

Rwanda has done so much in regards with plastic reduction. This includes the ban of plastic bags in 2008 and it was successful. You can not find any plastic bag in shops or the streets. However, adding on that list,

The challenge remains convincing locals especially in rural areas that are more touristic like the Northern province in Rwanda, that carrying a reusable bottle is not for tourists and on the other hand, ensuring that those tourists are given refillable water bottles in case they don’t know about it, to avoid locals asking for plastic which ends up somewhere in their gardens. The journey continues and I am glad to be here, as we learn important ways to save mother nature from human beings.

[Anne]

Yes agree, Rwanda has been very pro-active reducing the use of single-use plastic and it’s definitely one of the cleanest African countries I’ve visited. I can imagine there are still issues convincing locals and to make them part of the solution. How is Kingfisher approaching this issue?

[Divine]

In everything that we do in Kingfisher journeys, we strive to contribute to the wellbeing of local people. We offer them trainings and create jobs for them that contribute to sustainable development and take practical steps to enhance the environment. This makes them remain part of the solution.

[Anne]

Very good to hear Divine and such an important aspect of the tourism industry!

[Posiano]

Government’s failure to put a total burn on all nonreusable manufacturing industries.

Lack of appropriate alternatives.

Community resistance to comply with the rules and regulations

[Anne]

Tough challenges @Kasaazi – what can you do to still reduce single-use plastic?

[Nnana]

Plastic bags are not used often as before. Now people are using bags that are washable and are used over and over. The environment is no more littered with plastic bag haning on fences.

[Anne]

That’s a great improvement @Nnanas01 !
How and why do you think people changed their behaviour?

[John]

The biggest problem to environmental pollution in South Africa is the cultural habit. Plus not enough educating of young people about littering.

[Anne]

Good point @AAT – which opportunities do you see to (collectively) improve this?