IVORY COAST: A law banning the production, use and commercialisation of plastic bags in Ivory Coast is set to take effect from November 23

Record ID: 182390

  • Title: IVORY COAST: A law banning the production, use and commercialisation of plastic bags in Ivory Coast is set to take effect from November 23
  • Date: 19th November 2013
  • Summary: ABIDJAN, IVORY COAST (RECENT) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF PLASTIC WASTE IN A GUTTER ALONG A MAIN ROAD VARIOUS OF DISCARDED PLASTIC BAGS AND WATER BOTTLES MORE OF PLASTIC BAGS WASTE VARIOUS OF IVORY COAST'S PRIME MINISTER DANIEL KABLAN DUNCAN AT A NEWS CONFERENCE POSTERS READING: ECONOMIC AND RECONSTRUCTION RELAUNCH POST CRISIS JOURNALISTS AT NEWS CONFERENCE (SOUNDBITE) (French) DANIEL KABLAN DUNCAN, IVORY COAST PRIME MINISTER SAYING: "As you have all noticed, plastic bag waste has become a major problem in Abidjan. They are littered all over the streets, they clog the drainage systems, especially when it rains, causing flooding. We need to find a way to stop this type of pollution, because plastic does not disappear over a period of a year or two - it takes centuries." EXTERIOR OF AQUA-IVOIRE FACTORY, MANUFACTURERS OF PLASTIC BAGS SIGN READING: AQUA-IVOIRE, PURIFIED DRINKING WATER VARIOUS INTERIOR OF FACTORY/ WORKER OPERATING MACHINE MAKING PLASTIC BAGS PLASTIC BAGS IN BUCKET VARIOUS OF WATER BEING POURED IN PLASTIC BAG VARIOUS OF WORKERS PACKAGING WATER FOR SALE IN PLASTIC BAGS (SOUNDBITE) (French) HASSAN CISSE, HEAD OF AQUA-IVOIRE FACTORY SAYING: "We find ourselves dealing with a decision that came out of nowhere, a decision that has shocked us. This decision will have repercussions on the sector, on the economic and social level and I am not sure it will change anything on an environmental level." STREET SCENES/ FOOD AND PLASTIC WASTE LITTERED IN STREETS PILE OF WASTE NEAR STALLS SELLING FRUITS AND VEGETABLES ON ROAD SIDE (SOUNDBITE) (French) BRICE DELAGNEAU, HEAD OF ENVIRONMENTAL ORGANISATION AMISTAD SAYING: "It is true that at the moment plastic bag waste represents a major source of pollution, but now we ask, is the solution to this problem a complete ban on plastic bags? Because there are options such as recycling, or re-using these plastic bags to make other things. But is banning them the best solution? Today, we have huge problems linked to sanitary conditions. So what we need to do is ensure that the sanitary conditions are improved, instead of banning plastics because we could not find a solution to the sanitary conditions." VARIOUS OF GARBAGE COLLECTOR GOING THROUGH SACS CONTAINING PLASTIC WASTE FOR RECYCLING (SOUNDBITE) (French) OUATTARA NOURDINE, GARBAGE COLLECTOR SAYING: "When we sell plastic waste, what I make is shared amongst all of us. We use the money we earn for transport, for food, while we wait for our salary. We don't just depend on our salaries. If they want to ban the sale of plastics, then they should also adjust our salaries accordingly, but otherwise, we will continue selling plastics." STREET SCENES WOMAN CARRYING SACk OF PLASTIC BAG ON HER HEAD
  • Embargoed: 4th December 2013 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Cote d'Ivoire
  • Country: Ivory Coast
  • Topics: Nature / Environment,Domestic Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVA8BUWUXV99JL9LJTYG4RVCN1HC
  • Story Text: A law banning the production, use and commercialisation of plastic bags in Ivory Coast is set to take effect from November 23. Consumer advocates accuse the government of rushing to enforce the law without giving the public and those who work in the plastics industry any alternatives.
    Along one of the main roads in Abidjan, Ivory Coast's commercial capital, mounds of garbage overflow from a gutter, clogging a nearby water drainage system. The stubborn waste is made up mostly of plastics bags and bottles.
    Poor waste management and lack of recycling facilities in the city means scenes like these are commonplace.
    In an effort to rid the streets of the plastics menace, authorities recently passed a controversial law banning the production, sale and use of plastic bags that comes into effect on November 23.
    Government officials say, if well enforced, the ban will greatly improve waste management in the city.

    "As you have all noticed, plastic bag waste has become a major problem in Abidjan. They are littered all over the streets, they clog the drainage systems, especially when it rains, causing flooding. We need to find a way to stop this type of pollution, because plastic does not disappear over a period of a year or two - it takes centuries," Ivory Coast's prime minister, Daniel Kablan Duncan told journalists at a recent news conference.
    But the law is bad news for manufacturers in Ivory Coast who rely on plastics for packaging or produce the plastic bags for sale.
    Hassan Cisse is the head of Aqua Ivoire, a company that sells water in plastic bags.

    "We find ourselves dealing with a decision that came out of nowhere, a decision that has shocked us. This decision will have repercussions on the sector, on the economic and social level and I am not sure it will change anything on an environmental level," Cisse said.
    The prime minister has sought to re-assure manufactures, saying that the ban is not applicable to all plastics, but rather plastics used for the sale of water or carrying goods.
    Industrial plastics used to package agriculture products, for example will not be part of the ban.
    Kablan Duncan said the government is also willing to encourage the use of bio-degradable materials as a replacement.
    Although many environmentalists welcome the move, saying it has been long overdue, they fear it will not be sustainable due to the effect it will have on millions who rely on plastics for their livelihood.
    Environmentalists are urging the government to find alternatives and improve waste collection services.

    "It is true that at the moment plastic bag waste represents a major source of pollution, but now we ask, is the solution to this problem a complete ban on plastic bags? Because there are options such as recycling, or re-using these plastic bags to make other things. But is banning them the best solution? Today, we have huge problems linked to sanitary conditions. So what we need to do is ensure that the sanitary conditions are improved, instead of banning plastics because we could not find a solution to the sanitary conditions," said Brice Delagneau, head of an environmental organisation called Amistad.
    For garbage collector, Nourdine Ouattara, who makes extra money selling plastic bags to recycling companies, the ban translates into a big blow to his cash flow.

    "When we sell plastic waste, what I make is shared amongst all of us. We use the money we earn for transport, for food, while we wait for our salary. We don't just depend on our salaries. If they want to ban the sale of plastics, then they should also adjust our salaries accordingly, but otherwise, we will continue selling plastics," he said.
    Like Ivory Coast, many African countries still use non-biodegradable plastic bags.
    Rwanda has led the continent's fight against the plastics pollution menace after it effected a ban six years ago. Other countries such as Mauritania have also moved to either ban or limit plastic bag usage.
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