Plastic ban, a bad move

THE government’s initiative to ban plastic bags in Papua New Guinea will affect the country’s revenue. The plastic bag ban policy will reduce tax income.
Plastics manufacturers and importers are the country’s tax base that can support our economy.
The government should increase levy of imported plastics bags and plastic products to discourage it. Our government does not have an appropriate waste management plan which is a problem in the country. The government had badly handled waste management, particularly the use of plastic bags over the years.
In 2014, the government banned the import and use of non-biodegradable plastic shopping bags.
The government should readjust its policy to allow only for the manufacture and imports of biodegradable plastic bags.
Environment, Conservation and Climate Change Minister Geoffrey Kama should discuss with the Minister for Commerce and Industry Wera Mori or any other minister in that correlated portfolio to discuss the consequences of the plastic ban policy and its impact on tax revenue.

Yatapaki Us-4,
UOG