Nurdle Hurdle – Department of Environment must take bold action and ban single-use plastics

In response to reports that plastic noodles are washing up in the Southern Cape and on Cape Town’s beaches, Angelo Louw, leader of the plastic campaign of Greenpeace Africa, said:

“The fact that we have seen so many of these outbreaks over the past few years destroying our coastline should make it clear to the South African government that we need to step up our country’s efforts to eradicate the use of disposable plastic. other African countries already have.

‘In 2017, more than 40 tonnes of plastic knots were distributed in KwaZulu Natal and they were cleared for almost three months to limit the damage caused by the cargo of a truck ship.

“Nurdles are a major threat to marine life as they can be mistaken as food leading to clogged digestive systems and eventually the death of these animals. This latest environmental catastrophe in the Southern Cape and Cape Town will not only affect the quality of life for marine and wildlife. “animals, but also the citizens. The Department of Environment, Forestry and Fisheries can no longer dance around the issue, a ban on single-use plastics is crucial to improve the quality of life of ordinary South Africans.”

In September, Greenpeace Africa and 4,000 South Africans submitted individual submissions to the Department’s call for comment on new plastic bag regulations. They called for a complete ban on single-use plastic bags, as applied in Kenya and Rwanda, where the environment has improved significantly since plastic bags were banned.

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Contact details

Chris Vlavianos, Greenpeace Africa Communications Officer, 079837036, [email protected]

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