Traders in Yaounde fined for using banned plastic bags

Apparently, nobody escapes 'nya' in the district of Yaounde VI, including Biyem-Assi. All shops ranging from large ones, corner shops or small sellers at street corners received last weekend a surprise visit from officials of the Ministry of Environment, the Nature Protection and Sustainable Development (Minepded).

As usual, plastic packaging were seized except this time culprits were also fined.

"They fined me 10,000 F. It was not a joke. It was pay or close down the shop affair" says Sam named P., shopkeeper. Also a young kiosk owner who sells cigarettes and sweets was desperate to pay off 5,000 franc fine, despite her pleas.

Further, Blaise Dogmo, supermarket manager testifies to the operation. He was fined 15,000 F. "And that's because my boss was not there. Otherwise, it would have been 25,000F, " he lamented. He added, "Fortunately, they give receipts and records of warnings." "These documents, he says is to be displayed in front of defaulting shops and its mandatory. "

The auditors explain that it is for customers to read and understand that this type of packaging should no longer be used. It is also a test certificate, so that if they ever come back and find plastic packaging, fines will be doubled in addition to other penalties for rebellion" reiterated Blaise Dongmo.

All the merchants in the area swore never to buy plastic packaging again. "If a customer does not come with a bag, we will package their items in paper or he will go and buy plastic bag elsewhere. I have no more money to give to the officials "says another trader.

Most of them expressed regrets for the fact that, the absence of plastic packaging limits their activity. Eco friendly plastic packaging, they argued is rare and far too expensive to even make profits.

Minepded indicated that controls will be launched across the country and it will be continuous and permanent. They will be carried out not only by inspectors Minepded , but also by those of the Ministry of Commerce, the administrative authorities and law enforcement .

Concerning fines, Mr. Palouma , deputy director of waste management, toxic chemicals and dangerous to management standards and control of Minepded says this operation reflects in the Cameroonian legislation, including the law of 96 on the management of the environment. "These fines range from 5 to 50 million F.

But since all traders do not have the same economic power, we tried to issue penalties managed at the regional level, with values ??between 4-25 framed 1,000 F depending on the amount of plastic bags seized from the culprit. " These seized stocks are perforated and recycled.