[ad_1]
Vanuatu has taken the lead in banning single-use plastics, including plastic bags and straws, and has made significant progress since its implementation in 2018. The Guardian reports that plastic shopping bags are now rarely seen, with most shoppers using reusable alternatives. Festivals and events have turned to using banana leaves instead of polystyrene, and banned plastics have been reduced from 35% of the garbage to less than 2%.
Mr Ken Andrew, the local head, highlighted the positive environmental impact of the ban: “Since they started the ban, you can see the lagoon has become cleaner. Before, the plastic would form an island within the lagoon. We couldn’t conquer it because there was too much plastic.”
Building on this success, Vanuatu launched phase two in 2020, banning additional items such as cutlery and plates. The next step is to implement a Product Stewardship Scheme (PSS) to address the remaining waste of beverage containers.
Ms Roselyn Bue from the Department of Environment Protection and Conservation (DEPC) said: “The plastic ban has been very effective, but it is still common to see plastic bottles scattered along the coastline. We believe the PSS deposit scheme is an effective solution to collect these items.”
Minister Ralph Regenvanu said DEPC will work with Searious Business and the EU-funded PacWastePlus programme to complete the PSS programme by the end of 2024.
[ad_2]
Source link
