The Zambia Environmental Management Agency (ZEMA) has made tremendous progress in implementing Statutory Instrument (SI) 65 of 2018 on the ban of the use of plastic carrier bags and plastic-related materials below 30 microns in thickness.
ZEMA Corporate Affairs Manager, Fred Phiri, said most manufacturing companies are adhering to the SI and are performing very well in terms of manufacturing, trading and commercial distribution of the recommended plastics and plastic bags.
Mr. Phiri told media in Lusaka that ZEMA has however faced serious challenges in implementing the SI among the small-scale plastic manufacturers whose locations are not known.
He said most of them are not regulated and as such, distribute plastic bags and plastic-related materials that are below the prescribed standard.
Mr. Phiri further explained that ZEMA is currently promoting awareness and sensitization to the public on the effects of using non-compliant plastics on the environment.
He has since called upon plastic manufacturers across the country to play their role and ensure that they safeguard the environment by complying with the stipulated standard.
Mr. Phiri has meanwhile warned small-scale manufacturing companies to support the government’s agenda in protecting the environment by doing the right thing and getting registered.
He also encouraged the retailers to equip themselves with adequate knowledge on the provisions of the SI and oblige as they also play a major role in safeguarding the environment.
The only impact that this SI has had is that we now pay for plastic carrier bags when earlier we used to get them free of charge. It has just added to our costs. As for the environment that was meant to be protected there’s nothing. We still have plastic bags and bottles littered everywhere and in many places drainages are chocked. There’s no difference between a 30micron bag or the less in terms of pollution. Fred Phiri and his boss don’t know what they’re doing at ZEMA because if they did he wouldn’t say they have made progress. If what I see is progress in the eyes of ZEMA then we’re in maningi trouble
In other countries they have even stopped making plastic carrier bags as a permanent solution to this problem. I think even here we can try it and see how the situation unfolds
Zema is toothless. You couldn’t even stop the mine in lower zambezi national park.
“Tremendous progress”. What a joke. Zambia is in the top five of dirtiest countries, everybody is just dumping their garbage everywhere, plastic bags and all. Responsibility lies with councils, ZEMA and the entire very dirty population.