PNG fallen behind with plastic ban, says official

By LUKE KAMA
THE decision by the Government to ban the import, manufacture and use of plastic shopping bags in Papua New Guinea by November this year is a long overdue issue, an official says.
PNG Tourism Promotion Authority (PNGTPA) product development officer Nathan Lati said small island nations like Samoa, Fiji, Vanuatu, and Tonga were already into green energy campaign with bans on plastics already in effect and they were promoting substitutes that were locally made, degradable and friendly to the environment
“We PNG boast to be big and world class in everything for the Pacific islanders but when it comes to reality and practical aspects of doing things right, we do not reach their phase in the campaign for climate change and environmental protection and others,” Lati said.
He said it was disgusting to see that most of the products in PNG were made of plastics or packed into plastic that were harmful to the environment and non-degradable.
“We need to establish a lucrative recycling industry to manage and control the plastic usage and promote biodegradable products instead of plastic.” Lati said if Fiji and other places in the world could ban the plastic straws and recommend for bamboo and others that were made locally and biodegradable, that was one spin-off out of the many opportunities that would emerge out of the plastic ban.
Environment, Conservation and Climate Change Minister John Pundari announced the proposed ban in May last year and gave an 18 months grace period until Nov.