HEAD of the Presidential Secretariat (HPS) and Secretary to the Cabinet, Dr Roger Luncheon has announced that as part of its environmental protection programme, it will be moving to “dis-incentivising” the use of non-biodegradable products. He made this announcement last Thursday at his weekly post-cabinet press brief at the Office of the President.
In this regard, he said a move will be made to have a zero tolerance of non-biodegradable products at all state functions and events and under the environmental enhancement programme “Pick It Up Guyana”. Focus will be placed on the tourism, environment and retail sector, and discouraging the use of non-biodegradable products such as plastic containers and Styrofoam products.
In addition, the HPS revealed that government will be introducing legislations to restrict the importation of goods packaged in non-biodegradable products.
Environmental concerns at the community level, such as the disposal of builders waste and disposal of solid waste by the retail sector, will also be addressed, Dr Luncheon said, adding that penalties for littering will be enforced.
At the level of Neighbourhood Democratic Councils (NDCs), efforts will be made to re-design and develop landfill sites in accordance with regulations of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Dr. Luncheon said, pointing out that the design and construction sites will be done in consultation with the commercial sector.