Legislation to regulate indiscriminate plastic disposal soon

Accra, June 10, GNA - Vice President John Dramani Mahama on Wednesday said legislation on plastic waste to mete out stiff punishment to individuals and companies that dispose plastics indiscriminately will soon be introduced. He said this when members of the Plastic Waste Management Association called on him to present a research report on waste management in the country.

"We shall also make it mandatory and compulsory for all plastic importers to build the capacity for waste management, before they can engage in the trade," the Vice President said. He said although government initially considered the option of banning plastic products in the country, the inroads so far made by the Association was encouraging them to accept alternatives and called for public education on the report.

"Use of plastics materials has become a matter of choice so far as the 21st Century is concerned and government will study the report and make appropriate legislation that will rid the country of its perennial plastic filth."

Mr Ebbo Botwe, President of the Association, said the research had demonstrated that with the use of ox-bio, a plastic additive, plastics could degrade irrespective of where it is disposed off and called for governmental support to achieve those goals. He said apart from dealing with the nuisance of disposals, the implementation of the plastic management measures would also create more than 147,000 direct employment opportunities for the teeming unemployed. The President said the implementation of the research could also provide adequate revenue for government through import and service duties. 10 June 10