Energy expert Warren Leon prefers paper, but probably not for the reasons you might think. Environmental Minister Valli Moosa's announced intention to ban the use of plastic bags in SA was probably in conflict with the constitutional rights of bag manufactures to earn their living and did little to help with the constitutional obligation to protect the environment, Democratic Alliance spokesman Manny da Camara said. Tomorrow marks the end of a three month consultation period over the government's proposed plastic bag regulations under section 24 of the Environment Conservation Act, number 73 of 1989, and the closing date for the submission of comments in connection with the proposed regulations. In many countries shoppers have a choice as to whether they use paper bags or plastic bags. Peter Milella, market development manager of Sappi says the company supports a similar system in South Africa as both choices have advantages and disadvantages.
Plastic pollution is a problem.
Although there are objections to the proposed new legislation restricting the manufacture of bags, and there are other solutions to the problem, the Government's proposals have at least stimulated debate on the subject. Environmental Affairs and Tourism Minister Valli Moosa's proposed plastic bag regulation will threaten many workers' jobs in the industry, says the Chemical, Energy, Paper, Printing, Wood and Allied Workers' Union. When Environment Affairs Minister Valli Moosa told parliamentarians last year that he might ban plastic bags, it was just something he said off the top of his head and to which he had not given much thought. The roughly 8-billion plastic supermarket bags South Africans use each year have become a giant blot on the country's landscape. Environmental Affairs Minister Valli Moosa is thus moving in the right direction with his proposal that they be outlawed.