By Winston Muleba JR
Try to imagine how life would be without plastic bags - its obvious that some people would find it difficult to successfully do their everyday business without them. On a daily basis, people use plastics as carrier bags when, during and after shopping because they are convenient.
Look at Zambia's environment, plastic bags are everywhere, proof enough that in people's modern lives they are part of them. However, the convenience of these plastic bags come at a very high cost to the environment and negatively affects human health.
In Lusaka, Kitwe, Ndola among other districts one would think plastic bags are decorations. Don't you see that? plastic bags are everywhere!
In the recent past, the use of plastic bags is considered as one of the great issues that humans are facing in their contemporary life.
Studies show that countries such as China have banned the use of plastics. Bangladesh and India have only banned the use and sale of polythene bags which basically have thickness of less than 50 microns. Botswana, Kenya, Israel, Canada, Taiwan and Singapore have also banned.
Several cities globally have begun banning the use of plastic bags while some have enforced restricted laws against the use of plastic bags because of the negative effects of the use of their usage.
According to United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) in 2016, Morocco, Africa’s second largest consumer of plastic bags, affected a law banning the use of plastic bags.
Rwanda completely banned plastic bags in 2008 as part of its Vision 2020 plan for sustainability.
Rwanda completely banned plastic bags in 2008 as part of its Vision 2020 plan for sustainability.
Tanzania, on the other hand, introduced a nationwide ban on plastic bags in 2006 while in March this year; Tunisia introduced a ban on plastic bag distribution in supermarkets.
In South Africa, the bag levy was introduced in 2004 although they were never banned.
In South Africa, the bag levy was introduced in 2004 although they were never banned.
In 2007, Uganda introduced a ban of lightweight plastic bags which came into effect that year. However, the ban was never implemented.
There are a number of Asian countries that have either imposed a total ban or put levies on plastic bags. These include Bangladesh imposed a strict ban, China also imposed a ban although with limited success while HongKong introduced a bag levy.
India called for a ban even though enforcement remains a problem. Others in Asia to have banned or imposed a levy,
whether successful or not include Indonesia, Israel, Malaysia, Myanmar and Taiwan.
In Europe, Denmark, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Netherlands, Romania, Switzerland and the United Kingdome –Wales, Northern Ireland, Scotland and England are some that made attempts to face out plastic bags in one way or another.
The United States does not have a national plastic bag fee or ban but states such as California and territories such as
American Samoa and Puerto Rico have banned disposable bags.
“Kenya is taking decisive action to remove an ugly stain on its outstanding natural beauty,” says Erik Solheim, Head
of UN Environment.
In 2016, Minister of Justice Given Lubinda said his Ministry was ready to work on legislation that will compel manufacturers of plastic products and plastic bags to be responsible for their disposal.
Mr Lubinda said he was waiting for submissions from line ministries on how best to manage the disposal of plastic
materials.
He was responding to a proposal by Zambia Environment Management Agency (ZEMA) to have a statutory Instrument
referred to as Extended Producer Responsibility, put in place.
And last year in September during a media briefing in Lusaka, Wildlife and Environmental Conservation Society of Zambia (WECSZ) President Joseph Chikolwa called for the ban of the manufacturing and importation of all plastic bags used for commercial and household packaging in Zambia.
Mr. Chikolwa said the ban of plastic bags in Zambia would help the country avoid further health and environmental effects.
He said there was need to review the environmental management act to include the ban of plastic bags in Zambia stressing that this will provide a backing to the enforcement of the ban.
Mr Chakolwa observed that the cities and towns especially Lusaka, Kitwe, Kabwe, Chingola, Livingstone, Ndola among others look unclean with plastics scattered almost everywhere.
In addition, a Livingstone based conservationist Benjamin Mibenge also
urged government to consider coming up with a law to ban
the use of plastic bags in Zambia.
Mr. Mibenge told ZNBC news in Livingstone that plastic
bags are the major contributor to refuse in the country.
He said plastics are everywhere and that they are a serious
mess because they can even last for over 100 years without
decaying.
Mr. Mibenge added that government must consider banning
plastic bags and promote paper bags.
Among other petitioners campaigning against use of plastic bags, Benjamin Bush also started a petition which was addressed to the honourable Minister of Land, Natural Resources and Environmental
Protection Jean Kapata.
Benjamin stated in a petition that “plastic bags are an environmental disaster. Everywhere you drive in Zambia you see plastic bags polluting the environment. It has got so bad that even our cherished
iconic Victoria Falls is suffering with plastic rubbish dumped along all the viewing points and collecting at the boiling point.
“Africa's environment and its protection should be our number one concern. Plastic bags are killing animals, polluting towns, cities and rivers, causing flooding by
clogging storm drains and adding to our current cholera crisis. Simply put, plastic bags are not biodegradable and are leading to our proud country looking like the rubbish tip of Africa,” Benjamin added.
Against the above background, here are 10 reasons why Zambia should ban plastics bags or introduce bag levy.
1. Plastic bags kill rivers and lakes animals including fish in water bodies such as lake Tanganyika, Lake Bangweulu etc.
2. Plastic bags poison the food chain: fish and aquatic mammals eat plastic. If fish eat
plastic and humans eat fish and you believe that you are what you eat…
3. Plastic bags are used for less than 12 minutes: disposable items are only used out of convenience, but are easily replaced with more durable options.
4. Less than 5% of plastic bags get recycled: plastic bags jam up conveyor belt and equipment at recycled centers and just get thrown away.
5. Plastic in the water bodies could outweigh fish by 2050: that’s right, it is estimated that by 2050 there will be more plastic than fish in our water bodies.
6. Cleaning up plastic bags costs taxpayers millions: plastic bags clog storm drains, polluting our waterways.
7. Plastic bags aren’t free: the long-term effect of plastic pollution in our environment far outweighs the convenience of using a grocery bag for a
few minutes.
8. Plastic bags are an eyesore: we’ve all seen plastic bags blowing in the
wind.
9. The plastic bag industry profits off pollution: the impact of plastic bags on our environment is akin to the impact of cigarettes on our health.
10. A statewide bag ban would make things simpler: currently bags are banned in some places, but not others, causing confusion. A statewide bag is easier for consumers and businesses alike.
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About the Author:
Winston Muleba Junior is a Researcher, Citizen Journalist, Aquaculturist, Writer and Disaster Management Practitioner who uses media and ICT to promote environmental conservation; science, technology and innovation. He gravitates towards environment: water, aquaculture, land, climate change and agriculture as he is skilled at juxtaposing the latest research and expert opinion with the everyday lives and struggles of people on the ground.
Email: mwenyamuleba@gmail.com
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