Action to be taken against violators for producing non-biodegradable plastic begs

F.P Report

PESHAWAR: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has initiated action against violators after ban imposed by provincial government on non-biodegradable plastic begs.

In this regard, the officials of EPA have launched operations and issued direction to relevant officials to close down five plastic factories at Hayatabad Industrial Estate Peshawar. An official of EPA, told on Thursday that actions against violators have been started on 21^st September, 2017.

It is worth mentioning here that Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government earlier had imposed ban on non-biodegradable plastic bags. In this regard Forestry, Environment and Wildlife Department has notified regulations against non-biodegradable plastic products on 16^th June, 2017; titled “Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Prohibition of Non-Biodegradable Plastic Products & Regulation of Oxo-Biodegradable Plastic Products Rules, 2017”.

Under section-3 (2) of these rules, if any license issued to any person for manufacture, sale, distribution or import of non-biodegradable plastic will  automatically stand cancelled, he added. However, under section-4 of these rules no person or company could sell, distribute or import any pro-degradant additive without registration with the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

Under Section-3(1) of these rules, three months time was given to whole sale dealers and retailers to dispose off the existing stock of plastic products. On 20^th September, 2017 the deadline has reached to its end and now stringent action would be taken against violators, he clarified.

Director General, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Environmental Protection Agency will initiate strict action under Section-17 of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Environmental Protection Act, 2014 against those, not complying the rules and regulations.