Page 42 - Plastics News May 2019

INTERNATIONAL NEWS

Ban on plastic announced in UN adopts global treaty limiting

different cities of Pakistan plastic waste trade

akistan’s Ministry of Climate Change has announced round 180 member countries, except the United
Pplans to make Islamabad a plastic bag-free city by AStates, amended the 1989 Basel Convention to
August 2019. Minister for Climate Change, Zartaj Gul include plastic waste, a decision that aims to protect
:D]LU VWDWHG WKLV GXULQJ D UHFHQW 1DWLRQDO $VVHPEO\ environment and human health from the damaging
while sharing the government’s plans to prohibit single- effects of harmful chemicals and waste. The decision
use plastic bags in Islamabad by Pakistan’s Independence was taken during the 14th Meeting of the Conference
Day on August 14. The plastic-free campaign would begin of Parties to the Basel, Rotterdam & Stockholm
from the Ministry of Climate Change and government Conventions under the United Nations Environment
departments where a ban on single-use plastic bags and Program (UNEP) in Geneva, Switzerland. Around
1,400 representatives deliberated on this pressing
environmental issue for 12 days before reaching to
the conclusion. A United Nations body voted May 10
in favor of a framework putting more restrictions on
exports of plastics scrap. It's seen as a way to control
plastics pollution and give developing countries more
FRQWURO EXW LQGXVWU\ RIÀFLDOV ZDUQHG RI XQLQWHQGHG
consequences.The meeting was held under the theme
of “Clean Planet, Healthy People: Sound Management
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trade of plastic waste will become more transparent
bottles would be introduced. The ministry has procured and will be better regulated. It will ensure that the
VRPH FRWWRQ EDJV IRU GLVWULEXWLRQ DPRQJ RIÀFLDOV management of plastic waste becomes safer for
parliamentarians and federal government employees to environment and human health altogether. On the
appraise them about the hazards of plastic pollution and same occasion, the member countries established the
discourage the excessive use of plastic bags. These cotton
bags will also be distributed free of cost in weekly markets
across the city, she said. The ministry is also engaging
students, media and civil society for an upcoming
awareness campaign on the hazards of single-use plastic.
The Senate Subcommittee on Climate Change, headed
by Senator Mushahid Hussain Syed, held a meeting with
students and faculty members of COMSATS University to
seek their support to make Islamabad plastic-free and a
model city for the rest of Pakistan. The plan to rid the
environment of plastic would begin from the capital city — ¶3DUWQHUVKLS RQ 3ODVWLF :DVWH· WR RUJDQLVH UHVRXUFHV
starting from the parliament building and then extending of businesses, governments, and civil society. The
to government departments before being replicated in partnership will mobilise interests and expertise for
RWKHU FLWLHV 7KH FRPPLWWHH LV DOVR ZRUNLQJ RQ ÀQDOLVLQJ assistance in implementing new measures to provide
D ODQGÀOO VLWH IRU WKH SURSHU GLVSRVDO RI JDUEDJH DQG practical support. The Geneva meeting also undertook
waste. Manufacturers of plastic bags and other items to eliminate two toxic chemical groups - dicofol and
would be encouraged to switch to environment-friendly perfluorooctanoic acid - plus related compounds.
alternatives such as paper or cloth bags. Bans on Plastics 3HUÁXRURRFWDQRLF DFLG KDV EHHQ XVHG LQ D ZLGH YDULHW\
is likely to be implemented in cities like Hunza, Quetta, of industrial and domestic applications, including non-
Punjab and Sindh. stick cookware, carpets, paper and paints.

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