South Sudan's English Daily Newspaper
"We Dare where others fear"
By Awan Achiek
Greening South Sudan, an environmental advocacy group, is urging collaborative efforts to collect and recycle plastic waste in the country as the world observes World Environment Day.
The World Environment Day 2025, celebrated annually on June 5, was held under the theme “Putting an End to Plastic Pollution.”
Garang Maguet Garang, founder of Greening South Sudan, stated that the rampant disposal of plastic materials in Juba city poses risks to both land and human health.
“As we celebrate World Environment Day today, it is our role as the community, the government, and all national and international organisations to put into action measures to end plastic waste in the country,” Garang told Dawn in an interview on Thursday.
Garang explained that plastic waste has negative effects on animals and plants if not properly disposed of.
“There is a lot of littering in Juba, and most of our plastic waste, including rotten bags and water bottles, ends up in our water resources, especially the River Nile,” Garang said.
He noted that plastic waste is particularly dangerous because it does not decompose quickly, taking upwards of 300 years, depending on the type of plastic product.
“In this case, it is our responsibility because many animals end up ingesting plastic waste, which affects the land and the plants,” he said.
“If we consider the impact on humans, many of our people are now consuming plastic particles in foodstuffs, especially those sold by roadside vendors.”
The outspoken environmental activist highlighted that such waste remains a threat to soil fertility and marine life, as well as blocking drainage lines and waterways.
“In most cases, the plastic waste, especially protein-based plastics, takes almost 300 years to decompose,” he said.
“Therefore, improper disposal of waste contributes to health issues and negatively impacts the environment. For the people of Juba, the rampant rate of plastic pollution is affecting the soil.”
In South Sudan, an estimated 73% of solid waste is plastic, posing severe environmental and health risks.
