The Minister of Climate Change (MoCC), Bruno Leingkon, has signed another order under the Waste Management Act clearing the way for more bans on single-use plastic items in Vanuatu starting in December.
The Order follows the Council of Ministers’ (COM) approval in May this year to extend the nationwide plastic ban to include more items.
As part of the ban, Vanuatu plans to phase out the use of diapers for babies, which contains plastic and takes thousands of years to decompose.
However, in its 5th Ordinary Meeting, COM extended the phasing out of the use of disposable diapers from December 1, 2019 to December 31, 2020.
This is to allow for more consultations.
The new ban will cover the sale, use and distribution of items such as artificial plastic flower, disposable container, disposable plastic cup, fork, spoon and plate, disposable plastic stirrer, plastic egg carton container and plastic mesh net for fruit packaging.
Minister Leingkon who confirmed the Order said he will need to re-sign the Order as it requires a little change.
Vanuatu is leading efforts to ban plastics in the region.
Vanuatu became the first country in the region and one of the first in the world to ban single-used plastic bags last year.
The ban favors the National Ocean Policy and will help to reduce plastic waste polluting the environment and ocean.
Photo supplied Caption: Vanuatu to ban disposable diapers