A survey Study of Plastic Packaging Practices in Addis Ababa and Oromia Regions
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Date
2010-01
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Addis Ababa Universty
Abstract
The most environmentally criticized package types are plastic and paper, the former for
litter, ingestion, and disposal problem and the laller for deforestation. The Ethiopian
government enacted not to produce or import plastic bags with a thickness of 0.03
millimeters and below for they are major causes for the environment to litter. Besides, in
the proclamation (Proclamation No. 51312007), it has been indicated that "as of the date
fixed under a directive to be issued by the Authority, it shall be unlawjit! to put on the
market any plastic bag that is not labeled to show whether it is biodegradable or not ".
Despite all these efforts, it is common to see used plastic packages on curb-sides. The
overall purpose of this study is, therefore, to investigate plastic packaging practices in
Addis Ababa and Oromia Regions and suggest some possible ways of remedy to mitigate
the problem.
The methodology employed for this study is a descriptive survey and is both qualitative
and quantitative in n(J/ure. The study population basically included eleven package
manufacturers and 235 of their respective cllstomers. Of these groups of populations, five
and 150 samples were respectively drawn and surveyed. Besides, views of governmel1l
officials concerned were included. In collecting the relevant data, questionnaires and
interviews were used as primary sources. Policy and other documents were used as
secondary sources. 1n this study, probability sampling procedure was used with stratified
simple random sampling techniques. The data analysis employed is descriptive and
focused onji-equencies, percentages, and standard or interpolated median measures.
The survey result indicated that velY little attention has been given to packaging in general
and plastic packaging in particular. No packaging policy has been formulated so far.
Plastic bags with a thickness of 0.03 millimeters or below werefound to be produced, and
plastic packages in the form of roll and shopping bags were found to be the most dominant
packages being used. Plastic package wastes are not managed in an environmentally
friendly manner, there is an increasing demand for plastic packages by users. Government
and product users are found to be the most responsible bodies for environmental pollution
specific to plastic package waste. There is inadequate number of skilled personnel in
package design. Environment is given the least packaging consideration in comparison
with other considerations such as packaging cost and convenience to use and distribute a
product.
In the light of the major findings, recommendations forwarded include: to have packaging
policy in order to utilize the most out of packaging, to create awareness among the public
to care for environment and to dispose used packages safely. Besides, government must
enforce the already existing regulations (proc lamation No. 51312007) and issue some
other additional packaging related policy as well as regulations including implementation
strategies that will consider efficient utilization of packaging reso urces, environment,
package producers, package IIsers, and the society (1/ large.
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Education