Page 23 - IB FEB 2020

Plastic pollution is a threat to planet
earth triggering countries worldwide to
strategise and take action on cleaning
it up.
Papua New Guinea – one of the
large island states in the South Pacific
CEPA moves to ban with a population of 8 million people is
no exception.
Counterfeit plastic bags that are
single-use Plastic PNG’s Managing Director non–biodegradable are sneaked through
for CEPA Mr Gunther Joku. customs, landing in retail outlets and
shopping bags in PNG. are handed out freely to consumers
with their packed shopping items.
Many city residents and villages in and around Port
...An initiative to Beat Plastic Moresby, PNG’s capital city and Central province have poor
Pollution disposal habits; tossing about plastic drink bottles and single-
use plastic shopping bags, hence plastic litter is floating in
drains, creeks, rivers, beaches and the sea.

PNG traditional carry bags bilums as alternatives.

Single-used plastic shopping bags litter in markets and drains in Gerehu
suburb, Port Moresby.

According to scientists (SPREP 2018), plastics comprise Staff at CPL’s Stop N Shop pack items in biodegradable carry bags.
90 percent of trash on beaches and shorelines, causing harm to
marine life, animals and human beings.
initiate this.
CEPA’s action to “Beat Plastic Pollution.” ` CEPA launched a Plastic Coastal Cleanup Campaign in
In its bid to beat plastic pollution, Papua New Guinea’s June of 2018 and announced a two-year grace period to phase
CEPA (Conservation and Environment Protection Authority) out the issue of permits to manufacturers and retailers of single-
is clamping down on the use of single plastic shopping bags. use plastic bags throughout the country before the total ban.
CEPA will impose a complete ban on the issuing of permits 50,000 people including major permit holders in the
and the import of single plastic shopping bags on manufacturers industry, donors, churches in the National Capital District and
and retail outlets including shops and supermarkets throughout the surrounding Central province took part in the campaign.
the country from the 31st of March 2020. Major permit holders from various sectors also participated
Alternate biodegradable carry hand bags and bilums (PNG and provided logistics support.
traditional string bags) are encouraged. Positive reaction has Major development partners of CEPA including United
come from several major retail shops who have ceased issuing Nations Development Programme, European Union, Japan
one-use plastic shopping bags to customers and offering International Cooperation Agency and National Capital
alternate biodegradable bags. District Commission as the municipal authority, assisted with
Two years ago in June 2018, the world joined hands on the collection of plastic waste and disposal to the city’s Baruni
World Environment Day to recognize and put to action the landfill.
theme - “Beat the Plastic Pollution.” CEPA took the lead to Major Corporate Bodies such as ExxonMobil, Total

Islands Business, February 2020 23