Waste banana bunch covers entering Nam Ou River, Laos
Provincial authorities in Phongsaly, Laos, are cautioning banana growers along the Nam Ou River in an attempt to stop them illegally discarding disused plastic banana bunch covers.
Director of the provincial Natural Resources and Environment Department, Mr Khamchanh Sitthilath told Vientiane Times on 14 July that many growers have not stopped dumping their waste bunch covers directly into the river. Provincial authorities are constantly monitoring the banana plantations explaining to growers the negative effect of waste substances on the local environment but under the regulations they can only issue a warning to wrongdoers.
“Nobody is fined for dropping the waste plastic bags into the river; they’re only cautioned by authorities,” he said.
