Be decisive with plastic ban

(STAND ALONE)Plastic bottles and other waste cluttering the jetty near the fish market in Kudat, making it difficult for fishermen to dock their boats. - ZULAZHAR SHEBLEE / THE STAR

THE European Union and New Zealand recently decided to ban single-use plastic within three years and six months respectively. They are following Bangladesh, China, Israel, South Africa, Netherlands, Morocco, Kenya, Mauritania, Sri Lanka, Papua New Guinea, Vanuatu, Albania and Georgia.

Bangladesh was the first country to impose the ban in 2002. Kenya started the ban in 2017 and has the toughest laws at reducing this scourge which includes imprisonment and heavy fines.