A problem in Disguise: A Review Paper on Generous Uses of Polyethylene Bags (Nylon bags) in Nigeria and its Environmental Implications

Abstract

Polyethylene bags (known as Nylon bags in Nigeria) are a common household name on the lips of everyone in Nigeria. Its versatile purposes, convenience, durability, flexibility and affordability has earned it as a part of day to day life necessity. People continue to devise countless ways Polyethylene bags can be utilised and be of immense benefit to them. This has placed a huge demand on the production of polyethylene bags. However, due to its chemical structure, Polyethylene bags do not bio-degrade readily, which led to accumulation of waste Polyethylene bags in the environment. This accumulation does not only deteriorate the aesthetic panorama but also has an indirect negative impact on health, as individual health cannot be separated from their environment. Unfortunately, majority do not understand the implications, and the concerned agencies are nonchalant to threat posed by accumulation of Polyethylene bags in the environment. Therefore, this paper seeks to reveal the imminent environmental consequences of accumulation of polyethylene waste bags in Nigeria and the way out.

Keywords

• environment
• plastics
• polymer
• monomer
• polyethylene
• linear-low density polyethylene
• low-density polyethylene
• fhigh-density polyethylene
• waste