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Environment department discusses ban on plastic bags with retailers |28 October 2016

 

 The meeting with retailers and other users of plastic bags

Earlier this year, the Minister for Environment, Energy and Climate Change announced an imminent ban on the importation and use of plastic bags in Seychelles.

The ban, which is due to come into force on January 1, 2017, will also apply on styrofoam boxes such as take-away boxes and plastic utensils.

By then, retailers will be given a six-month grace period to eliminate their existing stock.

Some of them have asked that the grace period be extended to December next year.

The environment department has agreed to consider the proposal if necessary.

To keep retailers and other users updated on the matter, the department yesterday held a discussion forum with them.

The discussion, which was led by the principal secretary for environment Alain Decommarmond, was held at the Seychelles Trading Company’s (STC) conference room on Latanier Road.

In a presentation on the need and reasons to ban those plastic products, Nanette Laure from the environment department remarked that government and citizens alike are very concerned about the negative impact of plastic on the environment. She reminded that a recent study has shown that 30% of waste ending up on the land field is plastic which takes thousands of years to decompose, with many more ending up in the ocean.

If we continue with business as usual she has warned, pollution and destruction of marine life and management of such waste in itself will become a huge problem. She noted that even though retailers are charging a fee for plastic bags, this has not decreased their use.

She added that take-away boxes remain the second largest component of plastic waste in the country.

Mrs Laure also talked about alternatives such as reusable bags, paper bags and biodegradable take-away boxes and utensils.

Some retailers have announced that they have already introduced bio bags at their outlets. These include the Abhaye Group of companies and the Seychelles Trading Company (STC) which is providing such at its Airport Duty Free shops.

For the ban to come into place, the Ministry of Environment, Energy and Climate Change will have to propose a new legislation to the National Assembly.

The legislation will also provide for exemptions where plastic bags can be used, as well as their size.

Exemptions may include disposal or bin bags, planting bags used in nurseries to contain young plants, transparent bags allowed on aircraft and packaging for perishables.

PS Decommarmond also announced a value added tax (VAT) exemption on alternatives to plastic bags, containers and utensils.

The exemption he says is already being applied.

Another part of the government’s anti-plastic strategy, he added, is the recycling of pet bottles which is currently ongoing.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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