Plastic bags ban to start

National

By LUKE KAMA
THE Government, after a grace period of 20 months, will impose a complete ban on the use of plastic shopping bags from Feb 1, says Environment, Conservation and Climate Change Minister Wera Mori.
Mori said in Port Moresby yesterday that enough time had been given to businesses and the public to prepare for the ban.
He said the Government expected compliance by the industry, business community and the people.
“Plastic shopping bags have been a problem to the environment globally, and Papua New Guinea as a responsible global citizen, has taken a stand to ban single-use plastic shopping bags,” Mori said.
“So on Jan 31, the grace period imposed by the Government through the Conservation and Environment Protection Authority (Cepa) ends. There should be no more use of single-use plastic shopping bags from February.”
Mori urged everyone to observe the ban for the greater good of the country.
“We have around 30 importers of plastic shopping bags and three manufacturers in the country,” he said.
“The import permit is renewed every year and the director has already stopped the renewal of import permits.
“For the manufacturers, their permit is for 25 years. So based on the advice of the State Solicitor, Cepa is reviewing the plastic ban regulation for Parliament to amend.”
He said businesses affected would have to be innovative and produce eco-friendly bags.
Cepa managing director Gunther Joku said people should take their own bags when going shopping.
The ban was first announced in May 2018 with an 18-month grace period until November last year. But it was extended to the end of this month.

4 comments

  • It’s a long overdue issue. Our country should have done this since 1975. It’s now TOO LATE BUT TO SHARE THE POLLUTION FROM SOMEONEs IGNORANCE

  • Here in Western Province of North Fly District we are already rooling out this policy since November of 3010. Kiunga shops have plastic on shelves
    Generally sit is good for the environment free garbages and let’s make PNG safe place free of plastics all everywhere,on ground,at sea etc…

  • How is the plastic ban going in PNG? Madang still selling plastics? Government’s law is not protecting and this has died down.

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