Scientists and environmentalists are in agreement that plastic bags are hazardous to the environment, and have heavily documented their findings in many research papers. Joining the global rally to rid the world from this dangerous material, a number of Kuwaiti officials have expressed a strong desire to create a plastic bags-free country through various steps that would support this noble cause.
Speaking to KUNA on this matter, Director General and chairman of the board of the Environment Public Authority (EPA) Sheikh Abdullah Al-Ahmad Al-Humoud Al-Sabah said that the authority was in support of decreasing the country’s dependence on plastic bags through the use of environment-friendly alternatives.
The material, which plastic bags are made from, is hazardous to the ecosystem, causing various negative effects, stated Sheikh Abdullah Al-Ahmad, who called on officials running cooperative societies and markets to seek substitutes for plastic bags. He affirmed that the EPA would continue to spread awareness on the subject on a multitude of platforms, saying that it is an obligation upon the residents of Kuwait to be environmentally aware and avoid materials harmful to the environment.
In a similar fashion, head of the cooperative societies’ federation Mishaal Al-Sayer revealed that since 2011, a number of cooperative societies have implemented various measures to reduce the usage of plastic bags, and added that 70 percent of such markets complied with the decision.
A meeting for the federation was held to look into more venues to encourage the usage of environment-friendly bags, Al-Sayer revealed, indicating that new measures will be enforced to rid Kuwait from plastic bags once and for all. The EPA and several other entities are working to end the use of plastic bags by 2020.
While it is a great step to protect the environment from the ill effects of plastic bags, the persistent problem is the presence of a huge number of such materials, making it quite a challenge especially with the known fact that the substance is very hard to decompose.
Given the current reliance on plastic bags for a host of chores in daily life, it is a long and difficult fight to protect the environment from plastic bags and other hazardous materials, but it will be worthwhile as future generations would be thankful for a clean and healthy planet.
