02 Jul 2015

Somarelang Tikologo will this Friday (July 3) celebrate the International Plastic Bag Free Day promoted by Bag Free World, a global initiative that aims to eliminate the single-use plastic bag in the world.

A press release from Somarelang states that approximately 500 billion plastic bags are estimated to be used worldwide each year while more than one million bags are used every minute.

In 2006, the release says, Somarelang Tikologo had successfully lobbied for a levy to be charged on plastic bags distributed at supermarkets and shops.

It says the aim was for the levy to be collected by government to fund environmental activities within Botswana.

However, to date the levy had not been collected and ist currently going back to the retailers. On the day, the release says the public is discouraged from buying plastic bags from shops and instead look to reuse existing bags.

“We also call on the government to use the levy as it was intended to create a cleaner Botswana,” it says.

Meanwhile, Somarelang Tikologo is a membership-based, non-governmental organisation (NGO) that has operated since 1992.

It aims to monitor, protect, increase awareness about Botswana’s environment. It also encourages prudent use and conservation of the country’s natural resources.

The orgasation has since operating in waste management and recycling, introduced the plastic bag levy in order to reduce the number of bags being used, Enviro Schools and a Green

Shop in their premises selling locally made crafts and souvenirs from recycled goods. Ends