The association has asked government to pass a legislative instrument or law to compel bottling companies in Ghana to use a minimum of 30% of recycled PET (polyethylene terephthalate) in their bottling production.
The group has also called for a ban on the importation of flexible plastics such as carry bags, take away bags, cut bags, films sheets which is also hurting the plastic industry in Ghana.
To protect Ghana’s plastic industry, Ghana Plastic Manufacturers Association, has called on government to ban all imported plastic flexibles that can be manufactured here in Ghana.
Speaking at a press briefing in Accra, President for the Ghana Plastic Manufacturers Association (GMPA), Ebbo Botwe, stated that the huge problem of plastic waste has become PET bottles posing a bigger threat which take the place of that of sachet water waste.
“In India for example, there is a new law to compel PET bottling companies to contribute monies into a special fund for PET waste recycling and also provide a detailed plan of action to manage the PET waste generated by their business activities. It will also be very good to have laws to compel the building industries to use pavement blocks made from plastic waste”, he said.
According to Ebbo Botwe, bottling companies in Ghana have migrated from glass to plastic due to the economic situation in the country. he added that per the in the absence of a viable recycling PET bottle waste in the country Ghana will still continue to accumulate thousands of tons of PET bottle waste in our environment.
“Plastic will remain an important packaging material if we are to give consumers safe and affordable products, we are therefore asking the government to set up the Plastic levy fund authority, release the 10% environmental excise tax, ban imports of flexible plastic bags and packaging and pass a legislative instrument on recycled PET”, he concluded.
Ghana | Atinkaonline.com | Vivian Adu Boatemaa
