Environment Minister, Fadi Jreissati, on Tuesday launched a national campaign to curb the use of plastic bags in the presence of Economy Minister, Mansour Bteish, and head of Fahed Supermarket Owners' Association, Nabil Fahd.
Minister Jreissati commenced the conference by thanking the Minister of Economy for his attendance and for the partnership that has started with the Ministry of Economy, wishing to strengthen it further. He also announced that as of October 15, 2019, each plastic bag will cost consumers LBP100 each.
"The first global principle in waste management is to reduce the quantity of trash before sorting and recycling," Jreissati explained.
"I consider this day to be a historic one because Lebanon has finally joined 130 countries in the world campaigning against plastic," the Minister added.
"The environmental cost of landfills is high and known to the world. Today, Lebanon has more than 280,000 tons of plastic. (...) When we talk about the highest percentage of plastic consumption in the world, in relation to the number of citizens, it is a shame for us as Lebanese to remain idle and do nothing about it," the Environment Minister added.
"What we offer today is a multi-use bag, unlike the disposable plastic bags that leave great environmental damage."
For his part, the Minister of Economy said, "We meet today to devote ourselves to a new culture. We rally around a national choice, and a human responsibility."
Furthermore, Minister Bteish said that the Ministry of Economy and Trade had taken an initiative to submit a draft law to the Secretariat of the Council of Ministers to reduce the consumption of plastic bags - all based on Lebanon's commitment to the Paris climate agreement and the 2030 sustainable development goals adopted by the United Nations.
"The replacement of plastic bags with other multi-use ones translates the Lebanese people's interest in the environment," Bteish added.
TWEET YOUR COMMENT