Dept checks retailers
The National, Thursday February 13th, 2014
By ZACHERY PER
THE Department of Environment and Conservation is conducting an awareness and inspection of non-biodegradable plastic shopping bags in PNG.
The use of non-biodegradable bags has caused environmental pollution along the roadsides, drains in towns and cities and beach fronts.
A team from the Department of Environment and Conservation headed by acting director special projects John Michael conducted awareness in Mt Hagen, Western Highlands, and Kundiawa in Chimbu.
The team is now in Goroka, Eastern Highlands and will move on to Lae and Madang.
Prime Minister Peter O’Neill wrote to the Minister for Environment and Conservation John Pundari in September last year to take the lead to ensure that a ban on non-biodegradable plastic bags was implemented without delay.
He said any company and individual found to have breached the laws should be punished.
O’Neill said there was no evidence of action taken on implementing the ban.
“Shops in Port Moresby continue to use non-biodegradable plastics bags, so do other provinces. It is really unacceptable for the department to drag on the chain on policy development and implementation.”
He instructed Pundari to meet with his secretary and senior staff to set deadlines for delivery of a policy to rid PNG of non-biodegradable plastic bags, except those that complied with European Standard EN13432 and those that were composed of vegetable and starch materials.