Times Of Swaziland: MINISTER REVEALS:  123 EMPLOYED  IN PLASTIC  INDUSTRY, BAN SHIFTED

MINISTER REVEALS:  123 EMPLOYED  IN PLASTIC  INDUSTRY, BAN SHIFTED
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Sabelo Majola on 07/11/2024 12:59:00


LOBAMBA – While MPs are adamant that the Ministry of Tourism and Environmental
Affairs should not ban plastic bags to avoid job losses, it has been revealed
that 123 are employed in that sector.
The figures were shared by Minister Jane Simelane in a bid to sway Members of
Parliament (MPs), given that a great percentage of them want the proposed ban on
plastics to be halted to avoid against job losses and loss of income for those
dependent on recycling. While the ministry’s portfolio committee members were
debating its second quarter performance report in Parliament yesterday, Simelane
revealed that the ministry had actually extended the ban implementation date by
two months.
Extended
The ban was supposed to be effective on December 1, 2024, but the minister
announced that they have extended it to end of January next year. Simelane
explained that the ban of carrier plastic bags would not result in job losses,
because the plastic manufacturing companies are making diverse products, which
the ministry would not ban. She revealed that the manufacturers of plastic
products were making such items as plastic bottles, containers, construction
materials, plastic roofing sheets, furniture, storage containers, irrigation
pipes, crates, industrial products, bins, automotive components, pampers and
many other products have not been banned.
She revealed that the proposed ban on carrier bags, would give birth to another
business for the manufacturing companies, that of producing the paper bags which
are an alternative for the plastic carrier bags.  Hhukwini Member of Parliament
Alec Lushaba said such towns as Harare in Zimbabwe have a thriving recycling
industry, where waste is changed to wealth and people are making a living out of
recycling the plastics and other forms of waste. The legislator also revealed
that such was also observed in countries such as Singapore, as he was driving to
the point that the same mentality should be adopted in the country.
However, Minister Simelane revealed that the plastic waste in the country is not
in big quantities that it could result in a thriving recycling industry. “It
was in this House that Members of Parliament came up with a legislation to do
away with plastics, because they are polluting and dirtying our environment, but
when the ministry implements the legislation, it is rejected by its
architectures. As a ministry, our stand is that plastic bags should be
banned,” she said.
Employed
Prior to the minister’s clarity, Phondo MP Bonginkosi Dube had requested the
minister to share the percentage of people who stood to be affected by the ban,
especially those who are employed in the plastic manufacturing industry. “We
already have a high unemployment rate and many people are making income through
recycling the plastics. Does the ministry have a strategy in place for a smooth
transition as far as the ban is concerned,” enquired the MP.
Ntondozi MP Peter Ngwenya said what boggled the mind is that it is the slight
plastic popularly known as ‘boboshiwe’, which are used to package such items
as ice blocks and snacks, that are  littered the most but these have not banned.
Chairman of the ministry’s portfolio committee and Lubombo Region MP Futhie
Ngcamphalala, was not against the ban, stating that the consequences of plastic
pollution had multiple negative effects which could eventually lead to loss of
life.
Plastic pollution has many negative consequences for the environment, including
climate change, as the production of plastic contributes to it by emitting
greenhouse gases.
Plastic pollution can also harm wildlife in many ways, including:
Ingestion: Animals can mistake plastic for food and die from starvation.
Entanglement: Animals can become trapped in plastic ropes, nets, and packaging,
which can cause injuries and death.
Floating plastics: Floating plastics can transport invasive species, which can
lead to biodiversity loss and species extinction.