With the National Environment Commission’s (NEC) limited plastic ban reinforcement coming into effect from today, people were given eco-friendly shopping bags at the Centenary Farmer’s Market (CFM) in Thimphu yesterday.
Penden Cement Authority Limited (PCAL) is distributing the shopping bags for free as alternatives to plastic carry bags as part of its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR). The initiative, which will be rolled out nationwide, kicked off from CFM.
“As a CSR we are contributing around 10,000 eco-friendly bags which will benefit the public in minimising the use of plastic bags. The main motive behind is to support NEC in making the plastic ban a successful programme,” Dawa Dem, the Marketing Officer of PCAL, said.
PCAL will be distributing the eco-friendly bags in other districts as well.
Hundreds of people at the CFM were handed eco-friendly shopping bags. Along with the bags, the officials also advocated public not to use plastic carry bags. For now, people are optimistic that this initiative will supplement the NEC’s plastic ban reinforcement move.
“For shoppers and shopkeepers, plastics are convenient. But not everyone seems to take care of their wastes. Waste management is not one or two individual’s responsibility. I think everyone should do our part,” Gyalo, a customer at CFM, said.
“It’s a good initiative. The bag is eco-friendly. If they continue to provide such bags I can see the ban reinforcement becoming a success because then there is no need for plastic bags,” Dhendup, another customer, said.
But some people are sceptical.
“People will stop using for once when the initiative begins. But we are talking about thousands of people. If the relevant agencies fail to check every other day, the ban will fail. People will keep using it,” Passang Bidha, a vegetable vendor, said.
“I’m not very clear about the ban. Some said we cannot use the plastic carry bags. But nothing is clear. Some might not use but there will be people who will keep using the plastic bags,” Daw Dem, another vegetable vendor, said.
The ban reinforcement, however, applies to plastic carry bags, doma wrappers and homemade ice cream pouches.
The NEC has issued an infringement notice to the implementing agencies across the nation. The notice authorises the implementing agencies to impose fines and penalties on offenders.
Any business establishment found selling or using plastic bags will be levied Nu 500 for the first offence and Nu 1,000 for the second offence. And for a third violation, business licenses will be cancelled.
The plastic ban was first initiated in 1999 by the then Ministry of Trade and Industry. The NEC is reinforcing the ban this time to strengthen coordination and awareness among implementing agencies and the public.
