In their meeting today, the Pan-African Parliament Committee on Rural Economy, Agriculture, Environment and Natural Resources said that new laws on plastic need to be promulgated as the material threatens to become as big a problem globally, as climate change.
Led by the Chairperson, Hon. Didier Molisho Sadi, the Committee agreed that more attention needed to be paid to a discussion on how to legislate or improve legislation on the matter in line with the Bamako Convention.
The Committee meeting took place on the fourth day of the Second Ordinary Session of the Sixth Parliament of the PAP, under the African Union Theme of the Year for 2023, “The Year of AfCFTA: Accelerating the Implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area” in Midrand, which runs until 2 June 2023. Speaking during the Committee meeting, Hon. Sadie, explained that 400 million tons of plastic is produced each year, and out of this, only 10% is recycled. “This leaves a lot of plastic in the environment causing a lot of pollution. By 2050, we will have more plastic in our oceans than fish,” he said.
Members of Parliament shared their country specific stance on the matter to further understand the extent of the problem and offer alternative approaches they could take to the PAP plenary. “In the Seychelles, we have 100% ban on plastic and plastic items. I believe we are a long way ahead concerning plastic,” Hon. Conrad Gabriel said.
In Kenya, Hon. Esther Passaris explained that while plastic is still a problem, they have introduced aggressive laws. “Our laws have been so serious that people disembarking from the airports would make sure to get rid of their duty-free plastic bags before coming into the country in order to avoid heavy fine,” she said.
Kenya has also used old plastic material innovatively as building material. Some countries admitted to having no laws governing plastic use, while others said that even with regulations in place , people are not complying with the laws. The Chairman reiterated that the question on plastic management is important and needed to the attention of the Pan-African Parliament.
