By Godwin Eki – EMTV News, Port Moresby
Papua New Guinea imports nearly 460,000 kilograms of plastic bags every year, authorities’ records state.
Whilst the authorities assess and have records of plastic bags entering the country, there are others also entering the country illegally.
In 2014, a plastic ban policy was announced by the Department of Environment and Conservation. After four years on, the Minister for Environment and Conservation, John Pundari, recently announced an impending total ban on use of plastic bags.
In an interview recently, Minister Pundari said strict actions will be imposed on use of plastics in the efforts to totally ban usage of plastic bags around the country.
With plans to stop the use of plastic bags by 2019, the solution of using biodegradable or Eco-friendly bags will be the way forward for a greener Papua New Guinea.
The Department is currently reviewing the use of biodegradable and Eco-friendly bags. Businesses and manufacturers using plastic bags in the country will be urged to use other methods of packaging; that are biodegradable and Eco-friendly.
Image: Motuan children run through the debris of the “plastic tide” lapping beneath traditional stilt houses in Hanuabada village near Port Moresby.
