Preparations underway to realize ban on plastic bags

The Mongol Messenger
e.altanzul@montsame.gov.mn
2019-01-25 15:32:26

Ulaanbaatar /MONTSAME/ During the 2018 spring session of the Parliament, the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Petition has approved a resolution no.5. In the frames of ensuring its implementation, MP and Chairwoman of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Petition M.Oyunchimeg, Minister of Environment and Tourism N.Tserenbat and other relevant officials visited some packaging manufactories and got acquainted with their operations on January 22. The manufactories produce plastic, paper and cloth bags, and carton boxes.

 

The Standing Committee on Petition approved the Resolution No.5 considering the citizen’s petition, in which stated that a broad usage of hazardous waste such as plastic bottles and bags are affecting the public health and environment as well as threatening the right of citizens to live in healthy and safe environment. In connection to the resolution, the Cabinet has been obliged to take actions in direction of taking some areas under the state special protection to build a central hazardous waste facility; coding plastic bottles in accordance with International Resin Identification Coding System; classify and register plastic bottles; develop listing system of chemical substances their container and packages; prohibiting the use and sales of plastic containers chemical substances; and building capacity of laboratories that check the quality and safety of food packages. Moreover, other works have been reflected in the resolution such as to develop domestic production of packages for drinking water, milk and milk products and other liquid foods; to formulate a draft law on Eco payment, and to make citizens aware of adverse effects of chemical storage containers and plastic bags.

 

Furthermore, the Cabinet discussed and approved resolution No.189, which stated the usage, sales, imports and production of plastic bags thinner than 0.035 mm would be banned starting from March 1, 2019.

 

Beginning the visit, the officials visited the Vocational Training and Production Center of Visually Impaired People where the blind people make the cloth bag and paper envelope for official use.

 

Head of the Mongolian Association of Blind Z.Boldsaikhan said that the highest selling product is the paper envelope. By the subscription of the state-run organizations, blind or visually impaired workers make a total of 100 thousand paper envelopes every month. Although, the Vocational Training and Production Center for Blind seek ways to increase the types of products, to fully automate the factory and to augment production capacity, they can’t get financial support nor loan. As of today, the center has 100 workers, of whom 70 are blind or visually impaired. With capacity expansion, it is possible to provide jobs for 200 people.

 

According to sewer B.Nansalmaa, one worker sew seven to eight types of 60-70 cloth bag. Market price of those bags are around MNT 400 – 800.

 

Afterwards, they got-au-fait with the operations of some private entities that produce paper bags, plastic bags for household use. Minister of Environment and Tourism N.Tserenbat informed that a draft law on Eco payment are being formulated to support the production of recyclable waste. He also said the government should coordinate environmental and health issues, leaving the choice of using a one-time plastic bag or reusable cloth bag to people.

 

At the end of the visit, Chairwoman M.Oyunchimeg presented detailed information regarding the implementation of resolution no.5 and governmental resolution to the producers and assigned Minister N.Tserenbat to ensure implementation of the resolutions, and to further take actions in stages.