Authority needs funds to monitor plastic ban

THE Conservation and Environment Protection Authority (Cepa) needs funds to monitor the importation of plastics bags if a ban on plastic bags is imposed, managing director Gunther Joku says.
“Right now we are receiving reports that non-biodegratable plastics bags are coming into the country illegally so we need resources to check and monitor the importation of plastic bags,” Joku said.
“Cepa has been working on this ban on plastic bags and have alternatives in place. We announced the ban on plastic bags on Nov 11 last year and for people to use bilums and other bags.
“But since the announcement, we have worked closely with the plastic industry. There are two types of industries.
“There are those in manufacturing and those in importation. So those in the manufacturing and there are four of them in the country, have been issued environment permits for the manufacture of plastic bags and life of those permits are 25 years.
“Because that is the requirement of the Environment Act, I think that when we issued permits, it was to give them time to go into production and so forth.
“But those were decision made back then and now the ban will affect those permits and will have legal implications.
“We are working with the State Solicitor’s office to get advice to go forward. Other than that, we are issuing year-long permits based on their (manufacturers) performance and how they are importing plastic bags.
“The importation of these plastic bags should be of biodegradable plastic shopping bags and not other forms.”