Pundari warns plastics firms

By LUKE KAMA
PLASTIC packaging and bottling companies have been advised to involve themselves in a campaign driven by the Government to deal with the plastic waste problem over the next 18 months.
Minister for Environment, Conservation, and Climate Change John Pundari, pictured, said the companies were responsible for the plastic materials in the first place and should have the social responsibility to make sure they were safely disposed of.
“I am giving companies and industries time to engage with the Conservation and Environment Protection Authority (Cepa) and find a workable solution within the 18-month grace period –to run from May 2018 to November 2019,” he said.
“The companies that do not want to be part of this campaign have to be warned that ample time is now given to them to participate and make their inputs in this campaign to clean PNG of plastic pollution.”
Pundari welcomed the first consultative meeting between the plastic packaging companies and Cepa on Thursday and expressed dissatisfaction on the lack of company participants and urged them to make it their business to attend the second consultative meeting on June 1.
“It is important for them to make their inputs on the way forward because the government will not deviate from the fact that plastic will be completely banned in PNG by November 2019 after the 18-month grace period.” Pundari said Cepa had been instructed to draft laws and regulations under the Environment Act 2000 to back the campaign.
Company representatives who attended the meeting acknowledge the problem plastic materials had on the environment.
They suggested that plastic buyback schemes should be looked into to clean the environment of plastic waste.