Some good news?

Below is a news report indicating the government may table legislation making it more expensive to import the raw-materials needed to make plastic bags. Apparently, it's part of anti-polythene bag legislation that's on the cards. I hope this happens. It would be good news. Taken from The News.

Law on degradable polythene bags shortly

Wednesday, October 28, 2009 Islamabad The government would shortly be framing laws to practise use of bio-degradable polythene bags with the Environment Ministry already working on a draft law. The law framed by the Pakistan Environmental Protection Agency (Pak-EPA) will be soon sent to Law Division for presentation to the Cabinet for approval. Introduction of degradable bags is still pending despite consensus reached between the industrialists and the Ministry around four months backs. It was agreed between the Ministry and industrialists in mid May at a meeting chaired by Secretary Environment Kamran Lashari to start this project for averting environmental hazards caused by polythene bags. But, certain departmental bottlenecks had delayed the early implementation and industrialists yet await a nod from the Commerce Ministry to import chemical for preparing degradable plastic bags. Sources told APP that Commerce Ministry, despite request by the Environment Ministry did not include the duty drawback on import of a specific chemical, meant for preparing degradable polythene bags. Though, it has been learnt that the Commerce Ministry had agreed to include this issue in next year’s (2010-2011) Trade Policy, yet it means delay of another year. Used polythene bags are not only harmful for the environment and sewerage system but also for human health resulting in serious diseases. As part of its efforts, the Environment Ministry had brought the producers to talking table and after agreeing to production of such bags, the producers had sought duty drawback on import of this specific chemical. It was also agreed to introduce degradable polythene bags over the time by not affecting the working of industry and taking care of jobs of laborers attached to plastic bag industry. Although, it was noted that production of bio-degradable plastic bags would raise the production cost by ten per cent, yet the industrialists had agreed to go for it. The National Assembly had also passed a resolution two years back to ban polythene bags. But, it could not be implemented due to association of thousands families to this industry as banning abruptly could have deprived them of their livelihood. “For this, we are going to have proper legislation,” Director General Pak-EPA Asif Shuja Khan informed APP. “We neither want environmental degradation, nor desire industrialists to suffer and off load their employees,” he added. Asif said, law will be given final shape soon and sent to Law division for vetting. He said the initial draft of legislation was circulated among stakeholders and amendments are being made in it, in line with the suggestions and recommendations. It has been found that polythene bags presently used do not degrade till thousands years and badly affect the environment. Used bags were not only choking drains, but their burning in open by different civic departments, was also emitting harmful gases. “The bags to be introduced after legislation, would degrade in minimum possible period,” Asif Shuja said. He said number of experiments were conducted to produce a sample bio-degradable plastic bag and once practiced successfully, it will help improving environment and minimizing health hazards. (from http://www.thenews.com.pk/daily_detail.asp?id=205576)