Plastic packaging banned

Zambia’s Ministry of Water Development, Sanitation and Environmental Protection has banned the use of packaging materials like plastic bags. Permanent Secretary Ed Chomba said the move was in accordance with section 58 of the Environmental Management Act No 12 of 2011. The Lusaka Times reports that he said the legislation would enable government to manage ‘in an environmentally sound manner packaging materials such as plastics and their resultant waste’. They will also regulate non-returnable glass and plastic bottle, cartons, beverage cans, waste oils, pesticides or chemical containers, used tyres, electrical and electronic equipment.