Sen. Gerald Zackios, a former foreign minister, introduced legislation that aims to ban non-biodegradable plastic and Styrofoam items because the plastic bags and Styrofoam are a major land and marine environmental hazard.
Zackios is also targeting plastic bottles because, he said, “some retailers imported plastic water bottles and filled those with counterfeit or adulterated substances to sell or distribute to the public.”
Over the past several years, customs officials have discovered shipments of vodka concealed in what appeared to be bottled water.
The legislation is being strongly endorsed by Marshall Islands Environmental Protection Authority officials. EPA official Moriana Phillips on Wednesday called on local residents and community leaders to testify in support of the bill at a planned public hearing Thursday.
