The Ministry of the Environment (Minam) is working on a norm to reduce the use of plastic bags because of the pollution they cause on the fish and other species in the ocean.
On his part, “the director of the Peruvian Association of the Plastic Industry (Apiplast), Eduardo Del Campo, says that the problem is not to prohibit the bags, but to educate people in the recycling of plastic containers”, wrote Gestión.
To Del Campo people are not going to willingly stop using plastic bags for waste or wrapping because they are practical and easy to use. “Only for supermarkets and modern stores is allocated 7% of the bags that are made,” said Del Campo to Gestión, adding that the restriction would boost the growth of informality.
Gestión informed that in Peru there are 140 companies that manufacture plastic bags, which translates into $250,000 US dollars of investment in equipment and machinery. Also, an average of 40 to 50 people work in each of these businesses, and they would be impacted as a consequence of any action against the enterprises.
As an alternative, Del Campo considers that the amount of plastic bags given at commercial establishments should be moderated and that the materials the bags are made of should be recyclable.
“All types of plastic can be recycled,” said Eduardo Del Campo to Gestión, who considers that the Peruvian market is not interested in reducing the volume of plastics in the country.
Source.
Cover Photo Trosmisiek.
