All but seven ministries have banned single-use plastic, says the environment ministry.

The ministry in a statement said that it is working together with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to “phase out plastic,” adding that their work is “going on at a high speed.”

The ministry said that discussions have been held with a total of 50 ministries and state-owned institutions. It further noted that work is also being carried out to raise awareness of plastic hazards, with private businesses as well.

The statement noted that the ministry, along with the ministry of education and UNICEF, have distributed environment friendly BPA bottles to first grade students in 212 schools across the country.

Further noting that all but seven ministries have eliminated single-use plastic, the ministry is to have visited them to monitor whether they meet its standards.

The environment ministry also highlighted that some private businesses have been taking the initiative to reduce single-use plastic in their offices.

Furthermore, while a standard for classification of biodegradable plastic bags was introduced in 2012, the ministry said that they are currently revising it.

President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih had, in December 2018, launched the campaign to eliminate single-use plastic at the President’s Office, and pledged that the same will be done in all ministries and government offices within the first 100 days of the administration