AMMAN — Black plastic bags are still to be found in abundance
in local markets and shops despite the fact that regulation regarding import,
production, and circulation of biodegradable plastic bags came into force years
ago.
اضافة اعلان
According to the ruling, as published in the
Official Gazette in March 2017, the production, import, and circulation of
black plastic bags, with the exception of those used for waste collection and
agricultural seedlings, was prohibited, as was the import, production, and
circulation of non-biodegradable plastic shopping bags.
The fact that they are still in circulation —
amid demands, by various state institutions, for concerted efforts to reduce
their use and move toward environment-friendly bags — is due in part to material
reasons and in part to a lack of awareness, among consumers and sellers, about
the harmful impact of these bags, say commentators interviewed by
Jordan
News.
Chairman of the Jordan Environmental Union
Omar Shoshan said that “the use of plastic bags has not been completely banned
until now by successive environment ministers”, and despite the introduction of
legislation concerning them for the first time more than six years ago.
According to him, “the main reason is the
Ministry of Environment’s lack of capacity or competence to implement this
decision on the ground”.
Added to that is the fact
that “some manufacturers of plastic bags are working in an unregulated and
unlicensed manner, the consumer is still unaware of the importance and danger
of this matter, and some sellers use cheap types of bags in the day-to-day
because there is no material benefit” that would dissuade them from doing so,
he added.
Shoshan said that the government should
provide financial incentives to prevent the use of plastic bags, “especially
since this sector employs national labor, and preventing the production and
circulation of plastic bags would have some economic repercussions”.
He stressed the importance of concerted
efforts to prevent or reduce the use of these bags: “There must be
comprehensive cooperation among the
Chamber of Industry, Chamber of Commerce,
Industrial Zones Administration, Greater Amman Municipality, and others, in
order to obtain real results on the ground.”
Mohammad Tayseer, a seller in a supermarket,
told
Jordan News that “some shoppers ask me to give them black plastic
bags in order to preserve their privacy when buying some specific needs that
they prefer to hide”.
He admitted that those plastic bags “are
cheaper than environment-friendly bags, and this makes some sellers use them”,
and that there is “still insufficient awareness among shoppers and sellers
about the impact of plastic bags on the environment”.
Secretary General of the Ministry of
Environment Mohammad Al-Khashashneh told
Jordan News that there are
about 500 unlicensed factories, “while only 250 are licensed, and this may be
the reason black bags still continue to circulate”.
According to him, “a special system was
established for inspection and control of facilities producing plastic bags.
Violators of the provisions of the system are punished, according to the
ministry’s laws”.
Khashashneh also urged citizens to “refuse to
place food products, of all kinds, in black bags because they pose a threat to
their health and the environment”.
Ministry of Environment Spokesman Ahmad
Obeidat told
Jordan News that “the ministry is working in full swing, in
cooperation with its various partners, to reduce the use of plastic bags
significantly”.
He added that “the ministry seeks to raise
awareness among entities and individuals about the harm of using plastic bags
and to spread awareness about the importance of using environment-friendly
bags”.
According to him, “a month and a half ago,
the ministry launched a campaign, in cooperation with an international body and
an international community organization, whereby more than 35,000 cloth bags
were distributed to different shops”.
He noted that “this initiative is just one of
several steps taken by the ministry to limit the use of plastic bags.”
“Everyone should know that there is no going
back on this matter and that every party involved will carry out the tasks
entrusted to it in a professional manner,” he pointed out.
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