Government has banned the Use of Plastic carrier bags which supermarkets usually give to customers after buying goods.

The plastic carrier bags and other plastics banned are those below thirty microns in thickness.

This follows the signing into law the Environmental Management -Extended producer responsibility- regulations Statutory Instrument number 65 of 2018.

Ministry of Water Development Sanitation and Environmental Protection Permanent Secretary Ed Chomba announced the ban at a media briefing in Lusaka today.

And Dr Chomba said the Extended Producer Regulation is one of the tools government will rely on to manage in an environmentally sound manner, packaging materials such as plastics and their resultant waste.

He said this law will also regulate non-returnable glass and plastic bottles, cartons, beverage cans and waste oils among others.

Dr. Chomba said the law will require persons whose activities generate waste with potential to pollute the environment to employ measures essential to minimize it through treatment, reclamation, re-use, recovery or recycling.

He has called on all stakeholders to comply with the law to support government attain its goal of keeping Zambia Clean Green and health.

And Zambia Environmental Management Agency -ZEMA Director General John Musimuko said the Regulation provides for registration of specified packaged material.

And ZEMA Director Legal services Humphrey Mwale said would be offenders will be slapped with serious charges.