MINISTER REVEALS: 123 EMPLOYED IN PLASTIC INDUSTRY, BAN SHIFTED

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.

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