DILI, 24 january 2024 (TATOLI) – Plastic carry bags, which pose a threat to the environment due to indiscriminate disposal, continue to dot Dili, the capital of Timor-Leste, even as a ban on their sale has been in force for a while now.
Illegal traders continue to stock plastic bags and sellers also continue to supply them to their customers on request.
In march 2020, the Government of Timor-Leste, through the Council of Ministers, approved Decree-Law 37/2020 on the prohibition of the sale, import, and production of plastic bags and other plastics in Timor-Leste.
Arnaldo da Silva, a 25-year-old student, as well as devoting his time and energy to his studies, he also sells plastic bags because he finds the activity “very profitable”.
“In the morning I go to school and in the afternoon I go to the Taibessi market to sell the plastic bags. I do it because I need to earn money, I need to pay US$50 a month in rent and I need to feed myself,” Arnaldo Silva told Tatoli.
When asked where he buys the plastic bags to resell them, he decided not to disclose the name of the company, saying it was a Chinese trader.
The young man said he manages to earn US$60 a month: “But it depends on customer demand.”
Guilhermina da Conceição, a food vendor in Bebora, disagrees with the ban on the use of plastic bags because she doesn’t think she has a choice: “If you don’t put the food in bags, how are the customers going to carry it? With their hands?” he asked.
The National Director of Pollution Control at the Ministry of Tourism and Environment, Nelson Madeira, admitted that the commercialization of plastic bags continues to take place in the country.
“We know that the commercialization of plastic bags continues. During this first quarter of the year, we will be cracking down on plastic bag traders, while at the same time investigating how plastic bags enter the country,” he said.
The Decree-Law 37/2020 aimed to prevent and reduce the impact of waste on the environment, mainly focusing on single-use plastic products. The Decree-Law provides for the prohibition of the disposal, import, and production of non-recyclable plastic products and the prohibition of the acquisition, distribution, import, and production of certain plastic objects. The Decree Law also provides for the establishment of the following fundamental principles: precaution, prevention, sustainable development, global environmental security, polluter pays, reuse and recycling, and energy recovery.
Journalist: Jose Belarmino de Sa
Editor: Filomeno Martins
