Malawi faces Hiccups on plastic ban
Malawi Government’s order to ban use of thin plastic bags may face hurdles as companies that manufacture them are not ready to change, Nation Online has learnt.
Malawi’s Ministry of Environment and Climate Change Management advertised on February 21 2013, that effective April 2013, thin plastics with less than 60 millimetres thickness will be banned.
“The ministry wishes to inform the public that plastics are difficult to dispose of as they do not decompose easily. Due to this, it has been seen that most people resort to the hazardous practice of open burning. This results in the release of dioxins and furans into the air, which contributes to the rising cases of cancer in the country,” said the ministry is trying to justify the ban.
Asked about the progress of the ban, principal secretary in the ministry Dr Yanila Ntupanyama said Wednesday that government is still committed to implementing the ban. She, however, confirmed that some companies are sceptical with the timing.
“There were some concerns from some private sectors that there was little time to put their houses in order. Some companies had already received huge orders which needed to be carried out,” said Ntupanyama.
She added that consultations on the matter are going on since the ban will affect some jobs in the companies.
