Malawi shut down plastic firms: Manufacturers say ‘bad for economy’

The Malawi government has started closing firms who fail to comply with the ban on the manufacture, import and use of plastic bags with a thickness of less than 60 microns. [caption id="attachment_103473" align="alignright" width="571"] Environmental Affairs officials locking Rainbow Plastic at Mapanga[/caption] [caption id="attachment_103472" align="alignright" width="555"] Anchor director with  ministry officials after being imposed K1 million fine[/caption] Spokesperson for the Department of Environment and Climate Change in the ministry, Sangwani Phiri, explained that the closure of companies was in line with Section 76 (1) of the Environment Management Act number 26 of 1996. Environmentalists have long accused plastic bags of posing an environmental and health hazard to people, as well as animals, with the potential to kill on average one animal every three months due to unintentional digestion or inhalation. They recommend the use of “environmental friendly bags,” which can easily decompose or be recycled. Ministry of Natural Resources, Energy and Mining on Friday embarked on a crackdown to  shut down manufacturing companies who failed to comply  with the law to  protect the environment. The ministry officials closed Aero Plastics in Chirimba Industrial Area and Rainbow Plastic at Mapanga. Abdul Majid Sattar the managing director of Rainbow Plastic said he would follow due procedure before resuming production. Anchor Industries and OG Plastics at Ginnery Corner and Maone Industrial Area respectively, were fined K1 million ($1 333) each following last month’s inspection. The closing of companies has not pleased Plastic Manufacturers Association of Malawi who initially  filed a legal challenge in the High Court asking for judicial review over the ban . Vijay Kumar chairperson of the association said closing of firms  will have “huge impact” on the economy. He said  penalties for non-compliance with the ban  should be fines, saying  a number of companies such as Polypack, Easypack and OG Issa have already brought into the country new machines for producing the 60 microns plastic bags.