The Namibian government has introduced an environmental levy of 50 cents on the sale of plastic bags.

According to the Namibian, the tax will be channelled into the country’s Environmental Investment Fund and used to improve waste management.

The new amendments to the Customs and Excise Act, gazetted at the beginning of August, also include a tax on carbon emissions – of NAD40 and NAD45 per g/km CO² emissions exceeding 120g/km – and a petrol levy of 90 cents per litre.

Plastic carrier bags were banned in Namibia’s national parks in 2017, with transgressors facing fines of up to NAD500. At the same time, the import and local production of plastic bags containing calcium carbonate were also banned.

20 August 2019
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