Eswatini to ban single use plastic bags

The Government of Eswatini hosted a multistakeholder commemoration of World Environment Day under the global theme, Beat Plastic Pollution, and warned that the country was working on a complete ban of plastic bags in the near future.

“We are working on legislation to ban the single use plastics; read my lips,” Minister of Tourism and Environmental Affairs, Moses Vilakati, told close to 300 participants during the commemoration event held at Mavuso Trade Centre in Manzini on the 5th June 2023. “We need to accelerate interventions to tackle plastic pollution and transition to a more circular economy.”

The Minister lamented that despite numerous educational campaigns on environmental sustainability, supported by international conventions and protocols on sustainable environmental practices, plastic pollution has persisted. He noted that this was pushing the world to the precipice of an environmental catastrophe.

Vilakati noted that plastic ingestion was not only a threat to mammals, reptiles, birds and fish, but that micro-plastic has also begun to enter the human food-supply-system. “The scourge of plastic pollution is a visible threat that impacts every community,” said the Minister. “It is time to change how we produce, consume and dispose of the plastic we use. While plastic has many valuable uses, we have become addicted to single-use plastic products — with severe environmental, social, economic and health consequences.”

In her remarks, the Acting UN Resident Coordinator, Amina Mohamed, who is also the UNICEF Representative, urged that this year’s commemoration should be used as a call to beat plastic pollution, as suggested by the UN Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres. “We need to work together– governments, companies, and consumers alike – to shape a cleaner, healthier, and more sustainable future for all,” she said. “We must break our addiction to plastics, champion zero waste, and build a truly circular economy.”

Globally, millions of tons of plastic waste end up in oceans, rivers, and landfills. This waste can take hundreds of years to decompose, and it can have a devastating impact on the environment and people’s health. According to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, plastic waste produced globally is set to almost triple by 2060, with about half ending up in landfill and under a fifth recycled.

Ms. Mohamed congratulated Eswatini for launching the Phatsa Sakho campaign, with support from UNDP, which has significantly reduced light weight shopper bags during the 21 months of the campaign. The Acting RC also congratulated Eswatini for initiating a number of Bills and regulations to address climate change effects.