Some Swakopmunders oppose plastic bag ban
The idea of doing away with the use of plastic shopping bags has been welcomed by some community members of Swakopmund, however, others are strongly against it, referencing the country's tough economic situation.
The opposing community members stressed that buying environmentally friendly shopping bags would be more expensive and that proper research should be done before implementing this regulation.
“Economic times are tough now; everything [price] including food has gone up, so having to buy our own shopping bags or paying for plastic bags would just add to the burden we are already faced with,” one community member expressed.
This sentiment follows an announcement by Swakopmund municipality health services general manager Clive Lawrence during a community meeting on Monday evening that doing away with plastic bags is the municipality's effort to reduce the negative effects of plastic bags on the environment.
“An awareness campaign will kick off this month and implementation will be promoted until the regulation has been gazetted,” Lawrence noted.
He added that the campaign is to encourage residents and/or visitors to use environment-friendly bags or face levies on the use of plastic bags within the jurisdictional area.
Lawrence added that the termination of plastic bags is a long-term goal, but the current focus will be reducing its use to promote the utilisation of re-usable and biodegradable bags, which are already available in shops.
“This is also an opportunity for small and medium enterprises to take up by making re-usable bags and turning it into a business or a joint venture with the municipality.”
The by-law on the ban plastic bags would be the first for a town in Namibia.
NAMPA
The opposing community members stressed that buying environmentally friendly shopping bags would be more expensive and that proper research should be done before implementing this regulation.
“Economic times are tough now; everything [price] including food has gone up, so having to buy our own shopping bags or paying for plastic bags would just add to the burden we are already faced with,” one community member expressed.
This sentiment follows an announcement by Swakopmund municipality health services general manager Clive Lawrence during a community meeting on Monday evening that doing away with plastic bags is the municipality's effort to reduce the negative effects of plastic bags on the environment.
“An awareness campaign will kick off this month and implementation will be promoted until the regulation has been gazetted,” Lawrence noted.
He added that the campaign is to encourage residents and/or visitors to use environment-friendly bags or face levies on the use of plastic bags within the jurisdictional area.
Lawrence added that the termination of plastic bags is a long-term goal, but the current focus will be reducing its use to promote the utilisation of re-usable and biodegradable bags, which are already available in shops.
“This is also an opportunity for small and medium enterprises to take up by making re-usable bags and turning it into a business or a joint venture with the municipality.”
The by-law on the ban plastic bags would be the first for a town in Namibia.
NAMPA
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