During a stakeholders meeting, Karonga environmental officer Khumbo Mbeye says the district will start enforcing a ban on importation, distribution and use of thin plastic papers of less than 60 microns.

Mbeye outlined that the ban would follow the High Court’s lift on the thin plastics ban, therefore empowering environmental players to re-enact the thin plastics ban. Last month, the Ministry of Natural Resources, Energy, and Mines closed the operations of Chinese-owned company, Qingdao Plastics Limited, for continuing to produce thin plastics of less than 60 microns, despite a ban. In an interview after issuing the closure order, Environmental Affairs Department (EAD) principal environmental officer Peter Magombo said the department has in the recent past intensified inspection on thin plastics on the market.

Director of Environmental Affairs, Taonga Mbale, said the government drafted a strategy to ensure that the ban is more effective. On the other hand, Karonga environmental officer Khumbo Mbeye said that the only authorized thin plastic products are bread wrappers, plastics for wrapping fresh meat products and poultry products.