WESTERN CAPE GOVERNMENT TO BAN UNRECYCLABLE SHOPPING BAGS

 A motion was passed at the DA’s Western Cape Congress on Saturday to banned plastic shopping bags.

The DA-led western cape government has been mandated to pass a legislation that would banned the sale and distribution of plastic shopping bags that are not 100% recyclable.

the motion was passed at the DA’s Western Cape Congress on Saturday.

On Saturday, this was the only motion heard at the congress. It was brought by DA MP James Vos and  he was backed by DA MP Geordin Hill-Lewis.

The motion passed at the congress proposes that the DA-led provincial government in the Western Cape should pass a legislation that would prohibit the sale and distribution of vest-type plastic shopping bags unless they:

– Are 100% recyclable (containing 0% chalk filler);

– Are made from 100% recycled post-consumer waste;

– Contain 1.5% biodegradable additive to render them fully biodegradable under appropriate aerobic or anaerobic conditions, assuming such additive, meeting specified requirements, is readily available in SA.

A provincial levy on plastic shopping bags was also included in legislation that western cape is going to pass.

According to what  James Vos  told the congress before the vote, “We’ll be the only province putting forward such progressive legislation”.

He also told the congress that the motion is the outcome of the work of a study group and included talks with the industry.

Hill-Lewis also added by saying they have already worked on a draft bill to give effect to the motion.

according to the motion, “Instead they end up in landfills or blow out of bins or garbage trucks – blocking storm drains, getting stuck in trees or littering rivers and beaches – all highly undesirable outcomes. In nature, plastic breaks into smaller pieces, but never fully disappears – it breaks up not down, contaminating our food and water”.

it also said that less than 1% of the 350-million plastic shopping bags purchased in the Western Cape each year are recycled.