EIGHTY food outlets
and vendors in Harare have been arrested and fined for using the expanded
polystyrene material, commonly known as kaylite, which the Government banned in
2017 because of health and pollution concerns.
Environmental Management Agency (EMA) Harare provincial
inspector Mr Gilbert Mugunzva confirmed the arrests last month, saying the law
provided for offenders to be fined between $40 and $30 000.
He said the use of kaylite was dangerous as studies had
shown that increased styrene exposure led to chromosomal damage, abnormal
pulmonary function and cancer.
Speaking during a tour of plastic manufacturing company,
Planas, in Willowvale, Harare, Mr Mugunzva said the agency would continue
fighting to protect the environment and the health of people.
He said none of the offenders had been fined the maximum
penalty yet as only distributors and not manufacturers, had so far been netted.
“Planas used to be the major producer of polystyrene but
has since changed their production line and machines to produce the packaging
material of high-density poly ethylene,” he said.
Mr Mugunzva said the new packaging could be recycled and
did not produce styrene gas compared to the polystyrene which was banned.
“The advantage of the new packaging is that it has a high
melting point and does not react with whatever it cannot contain. The plastics
can be recycled to bring a new product unlike the kaylite which when it melts,
produces styrene gas which causes cancer,” said Mr Mugunzva.
Planas sales and marketing manager Ms Melody Frank said
when the kaylite was banned in Zimbabwe, they moved their machines to Zambia
where kaylite was still allowed and invested in new machines to make a new
plastic product.
“We can manufacture up to two million pieces per day and if
the electricity supply improves, we will produce more plastics that we will
even export,” she said.
Kaylite was banned in 2017 under Statutory Instrument 84 of
2012 (Plastic Packaging and Plastic Bottles) (Amendment) Regulations, 2012 (No
1.), which prohibits the manufacture or importation of expanded polystyrene
(kaylite) for use or commercial distribution within Zimbabwe. Herald
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