War declared on plastic bags

The Moroccan Forum for Environmental Initiatives (FMIE) is once again declaring war on plastic bags. Its members have been conducting an awareness campaign for a few days in several places in the city of Fès, particularly in shopping centres that experience high footfall during the month of Ramadan. The FMIE distributes canvas bags to citizens and encourages them to limit or even eliminate the use of plastic bags, which are responsible for pollution. It also explains to them that their production emits greenhouse gases responsible in particular for global warming, and that their recycling would consume more resources than it would restore. "80% of plastic bags are neither sorted nor recycled: between 100 and 400 years are necessary for them to degrade. As they are light, they tend to fly away and we find them everywhere in natural environments: rivers, mountains, and the sea, where they contribute to the degradation of landscapes," explain the specialists. This action is part of the programme launched by the Ministry of Energy, Mines, Water, and Environment in partnership with the Ministry of General Affairs and the Ministry of Finance. It aims to promote the use of canvas bags as alternatives to plastic bags and to stimulate the social economy and promote its participation in the protection of the environment and the preservation of natural resources. It is also about raising public awareness of the use of ecological packaging and environmentally friendly consumption patterns and consolidating the achievements of campaigns to collect and eliminate plastic bags. "Canvas bags are produced by sewing cooperatives and distributed by the Moroccan Forum for Environmental Initiatives in Fès as well as by other environmental associations in 26 cities across the country, in order to raise public awareness of the use of ecological bags and other alternatives to plastic bags. It is also about evaluating the programme and defining its sustainability modalities," specify the representatives of the FMIE. A vital alternative: It should be noted that an investment of 70 million DH is allocated to the programme launched by the Ministry of Energy, Mines, Water, and Environment in partnership with the Ministry of General Affairs and the Ministry of Finance. In the total amount, 50 million are borne by the Ministry of General Affairs and 20 million DH as a contribution from the Ministry of Energy, Mines, Water, and Environment. Beyond its impact on the environment, the programme targets the production and distribution of nearly 3 million canvas bags, the improvement of the turnover of about 150 cooperatives, and the improvement of the income of 2,600 members. It is also a question of mobilisation and support for nearly 70 local associations working in the field of the environment and raising awareness among 3 million households about ecological alternatives to plastic bags.

Provider / Source : Le Matin