Discovery: Man Makes Plastics From His Home

The Department of Environment on Friday discovered that a market vendor was manufacturing plastics at his home.

The discovery was made after SunCity team with the Department of Environment made a surprise check at the Suva City Mu­nicipal Market on Friday.

A John Pratap admitted to manufacturing the plastics from his home in Narere.

He said he had been given the wrong infor­mation regarding the ban on the use, man­ufacture and retail of single use plastics.

Director for the Department of Environ­ment Sandeep Singh led the team who in­spected the market.

She said following this discovery they would make deliberations and checks.

It was also discovered that middlemen sold plastics to vendors and market kiosk operators.

What vendors said

Vendors the Fiji Sun spoke to said the sin­gle use plastic bags were cheaper.

However it was noted that most vendors knew about the ban on single use plastic bags but preferred to ignore the damages to the environment over cost.

Milika Ledua works at a stall selling sin­gle use plastic. She admitted knowing the ban.

The Department of Environment team met with Suva City Council market man­ager Lesieli Qetaki to discuss the issue and how to better enforce the law.

In Nausori Market, the Nausori Town Council chief executive Anurashika Bari said vendors in Nausori were told to imme­diately remove all plastic bags which were not to be used under the ban of single use plastic bags.

According to law, a person who manufac­tures single-use plastic bags or that with a thickness of less than 50 microns, com­mits an offence is liable upon conviction to a fine not exceeding $500,000 or a term of imprisonment not exceeding seven years or both.

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