Bag options available

LOCALLY-manufactured products can be used as alternatives for plastic bags, says director of the Institute of National Affairs Paul Barker.
Barker said: “Some of these alternative products will be locally manufactured or imported and provide continued import duty and GST (goods and services tax) revenue.”
“It will provide a stimulus to local bilum producers, using different bilum materials, including readily washable ones for fruit and vegetables,” he said.
“Bans have been introduced in recent years around the world, in both developed and developing countries, particularly across East Africa, and alternatives have been found, including bags, and long life containers for use in fridges.”
Barker said, however, the ban on the use of plastic bags will still cause some inconvenience to business houses and customers.
“The ban on plastic bags will certainly be initially inconvenient to shoppers, who’ll have to remember to bring boxes and permitted long-life bags when going to shops and markets.
“It will also certainly be a management issue for shops where plastic bags provide convenient containers for weighing and storage.”
Barker added that it should also be recognised that some of the alternatives may entail higher energy use in production and also impose environmental costs.
“The costs of single use plastic bags, both on the environment and in cleaning up waste, are excessive,” Barker said.