Papua New Guinea's Conservation and Environment Protection Authority has reportedly begun implementing a ban on non-biodegradable plastic shopping bags.
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The newspaper, The National, reports that companies and industries operating locally are being told they must comply with the law or face prosecution.
The Authority's managing director Gunther Joku warned that officers would be going throughout the country to collect plastic bag samples and conduct audit compliances.
Mr Joku said plastic bags posed a significant threat to various marine life and a litter problem to humans.
According to him, PNG is immensely affected by the increasing non-biodegradable solid wastes in fragile environments through improper management and use of the plastic shopping bags.