No, this isn’t some sort of shrine with prayer messages hanging off it; it is rubbish caught on a rusting metal truck body near the golf course.
Rubbish in PNG is made up mainly of plastic bags – which are “affectionately” known as The Flowers of PNG because of their bright colours along the road-sides.
The government, a number of years ago, actually banned the use of non-biodegradable bags but it has never been implemented. Some companies have bio-degradable bags but the cost inhibits widespread use. Of course the bags blow into water-ways and the sea, causing injuries and death to bird and fish life.
Until someone can develop cheap bags that will break down quickly, we will continue to have our unwanted flower gardens.
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I’m off again for work, this time to Mt Hagen up in the Highlands of PNG, for a week. I used to travel through here when we lived in Tabubil in the late 1990s, so am looking forward to going back. I can now pop my posts in draft and they can be scheduled to appear on my blog while I am away – it’s like magic. I do think HWDB & Benson are a little miffed they have become redundant.
9 comments:
A sad state of affairs and one all too common around the world. San Francisco addressed the issue by charging a premium to use plastic bags. But in my home town, of Greenville South Carolina, it is still way to common to use plastic at the grocery store. At least the baggers ask if we would prefer paper or plastic.
We actually use cloth bags when going to market...we take them and bring them home...what a novel idea!lol...too bad the government doesn't hand them out, outlaw the plastic and be done with it. Or paper bags??? Hope you're traveling safe sweetie!hughugs
I see this all the time on our river sides, and also caught in bushes, our towns are full of litter. I could go on but this really is a 'pet hate' of mine.
Third world countries embraced the consumer society just like every other country. It always makes me sad to see the trash- the residue of that consumer society.
Plastic bags suck. I can't believe they still use them in my local shop. Everything else is organic and fairtrade, then they try to give you a plastic bag.
I've been moaning at them for years and dragging my hemp bags with me everywhere.
There are large chunks of the Pacific and the Atlantic that look like landfill tips from the air.
Thanks for posting this, Jules.
Let's hope more people will stop using the stuff.
Nice post! Loved the photo even with all the plastic bags.
We are encouraged to use our own bags when shopping and at some supermarkets they actually give you discount if you use your own bag. On the 1st wed. of every month, there wont be any free plastic bags in big supermarkets.
I have heard of towns that charge a tax or fee for plastic bags, and have read that it took almost no time for the consumers to begin bringing their own bags to the market. I wish such policies were more widely implemented!
This is a universal problem, Jules. Most stores have given up plastic bags but people are dirty here!
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