Page 24 - IB FEB 2020

E&P, Puma Energy and Steamships Limited also took up the needed to push CEPA towards enforcing a
initiative, providing in-kind support. This support enabled sterner regulation for plastic bags.
CEPA to cover a total of 28 villages between July 2018 and Hence, early February of this year,
June 2019. More than 6,000 garbage bags were collected PNG’s Minister for Environment,
during this campaign, and as the data suggests, over 30 tonnes Conservation and Climate Change Hon.
of plastic waste were amassed from all sites. Wera Mori made a call, reannouncing the
Participants hailed the campaign as a success that involved ban, however, another 45 days extension
hundreds of women, youth and children in NCD and Central was also given to all those in the industry
province. PNG’s Minister before the final phase out.
for Environment,
As the campaign was seen as successfully increasing Conservation and Hon. Mori warned that anyone found
CEPA’s level of engagement in the coastal communities Climate Change Mr to continue importing, manufacturing or
affected by plastic pollution, there was much political support Wera Mori. retailing plastic bags after the prescribed
dates would be in breach of the Environment Act 2000.
He said PNG through the Conservation and Environment
Protection Authority (CEPA) regulates the import, manufacture
and distribution of all plastics in the country. In the recent
years, environment permits were granted to three plastic bag
manufacturing companies to manufacture plastic shopping
bags.
“As a way of reducing the environmental impacts of
plastics, CEPA intends to systematically address the issue.
And in that respect, wishes to ban the import of single-use
plastic shopping bags. The manufacture of single-use plastics
will continue but with strict guidelines and requirements for
recycling,” Mr Mori said.
Following CEPA’s awareness in the recent years, reputable
retail businesses such as Brian Bell, Vision City Shopping
Mall, and CPL have begun restrictions on issuing single-use Volunteers and CEPA staff during the clean-up.
shopping plastic bags to customers. of 40 microns and above, manufacturers and importers who are marketing was widely used in the last decade. However, due
“Instead, they are encouraging customers to bring their found to exceed this standard will face the obvious incurrence to environmental impacts and global concerns, many countries
own shopping bags. This is a positive step for our country.” of increased production costs. have moved away from plastic bags and advocated for the use
He further explained that in PNG, regulations exist to The most obvious economic implications will result in of alternative means.
control the import and manufacture of biodegradable plastic consumers paying more for plastic shopping bags. Curbing CEPA through enforcement of this regulation, is taking the
shopping bags. However, the enforcement of these have not consumer dependency on plastic bags over time will gradually first step in a positive direction, for the citizens of PNG, and as
been effective due to lack of technical capacity to detect influence positive changes in attitudes. custodians of the environment as a whole.
counterfeit non-biodegradable single-use plastic shopping The use of plastic bags for the purpose of shopping and
bags being imported into the country.
“It is difficult to monitor the entry of counterfeit non-
biodegradable plastic shopping bags, especially at PNG
customs or ports. Therefore, our aim is to repeal this regulation
and introduce a new set of regulations.”
“The import, sale or distribution of single-use plastic
shopping bags will also be prohibited and any breaches will
be penalized by a fine or imprisonment. Also, all existing
Environment Permits issued to importers of single-use plastic
shopping bags will not be renewed after their expiry.”
“Currently, single-use plastic shopping bags are given to
customers freely at shopping centres and retail outlets. The
main intention of this proposed regulation is to ban import and
manufacture of these single-use plastic shopping bags.”
Minister Mori further clarified that the proposed regulation
is aimed at reducing the amount of plastic shopping bags that
are discarded into the environment, with the overall intent to
give consumers a choice whether to pay for new plastic bags or
to reuse their own when out shopping.
With this new regulation designed to standardise the
Volunteers and villagers working together during the clean-ups. production of recyclable plastic shopping bags to a thickness A new look, plastic-free Port Moresby.

24 Islands Business, February 2020