Economic Impacts of proposed plastic ban will be minimal with alternatives already available

By Timothy Inifiri Jr.

The Deputy Secretary Corporate of the Ministry of Environment, Climate Change, Disaster Management and Meteorology (MECDM) Mr. Karl Kuper said that there will be minimal economic impacts from the proposed ban on certain single use plastics in the country.

Speaking to the media recently, Mr. Kuper emphasised that with other environmental friendly alternatives already available in the market, the economic impacts of the proposed plastic ban are considered to be minimal.

“There will also be new avenues and opportunities that will open up, for instance, local women engaged in weaving of baskets and selling their products, which is also an alternative”, said Kuper.

 Kuper also confirmed  the categories of plastics that will be affected by the ban which includes shopping bags, Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) drinking bottles less than 1.5L, Plastic Straws , Polystyrene Styrofoam takeaway boxes, Cups, plates, and other plastic cutleries like food containers, forks, knives and spoons.  

Kuper explained that most of the listed plastics were identified through past audits by the ministry of rubbish mostly found in the communities.

He also added that a Technical Working Committee is currently tasked to see that a regulation which will seek to ban single use plastics from import, manufacture, distribution and sale in the country be put in place and enforced by September.