SA hasn’t signed plastic treaty yet – DFFE

THE Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE) responded to concerns from various environmental groups on the country’s stance on the proposed global plastic treaty, their considering of importing more plastic waste, and the effectiveness of their current systems in reducing plastic waste.

DA parliamentary spokesperson for environment, forestry and fisheries Dave Bryant said it was vital to establish the facts after a leaked document suggested that the national DFFE would not support the proposed global treaty on reducing plastic pollution and that they were investigating the importation of plastic waste from other countries.

Responding, DFFE Minister Barbara Creecy said they had been participating in the UN Environment Assembly’s Ad Hoc Open-Ended Expert Group on Marine Litter and Microplastics, where the treaty was considered.

“SA has not finalised the due process to inform any pronouncement on a position concerning the global treaty for plastic pollution. This will only be done after a position paper is taken through the Cabinet Cluster process,” said Creecy.

Creecy said the country’s current systems were effective in significantly reducing the amount of plastic waste, especially waste going into the ocean. Regarding the import of plastic waste, Creecy said applicants were obliged to indicate the intended use of plastics and evidence of scarcity of the type of plastic waste they intended to import.

“The response … has not shown any intention to sign the global treaty, and this should be very concerning for all those who care about our environment,” said Byrant.

AfriOceans Conservation Alliance founder Lesley Rochat said: “It is clear that the waste management system ... is fragmented and municipalities lack capacity to handle the magnitude of the problem.”