With one month for the country to reinforce the ban of plastic carry bags and wrappers, the shopkeepers and vegetable vendors in Trongsa say there is a need for an alternative, especially for plastic wrappers.
Today, the majority of the shopkeepers use plastic wrappers and bags to store vegetables, fruits and local products fresh and clean. But soon, such a kind of plastic carry bags and wrappers will not be allowed.
“We have an alternative for plastic bags but not for packaging. People avoid buying local products if it is not wrapped in plastic,” Tshering Yangzom, a vegetable vendor, said.
“With the plastic ban, we will have nothing to wrap our goods with, which will affect our business,” Karma Choki, another vendor, said.
“We can’t sell vegetables and fruits if we don’t have plastic bags. So if customers could bring their bags while coming to buy goods, this will ease the problem,” Tashi Dema, also a vegetable vendor, said.
Meanwhile, the biodegradable carry bags or wrappers are encouraged as a substitute for plastic wrappers and bags.
The National Environment Commission will reinforce the ban on the use and sale of plastic bags and wrappers from 1st April this year after the ban was first introduced in 1999.
