The debate in Parliament has begun regarding an amendment submitted by the government to the Waste Management Act, where an exclusion of the plastic bag fee for customers who buy in bulk will be included.

Ungoofaaru Constituency MP Ibrahim Shifaz submitted the bill on behalf of the government, with it reading that the plastic bag fee will not apply to those who buy a bundle of more than 50 plastic bags.

Article 32 of the Waste Management Act currently states that the fee will be exempt in three situations. One is for the plastic bags sold at or given from duty free stores, the second is plastic bags used to store fresh fish, and the third is for bin lines sold or given from relevant institutions.

The debate that began today will cover the inclusion of a paragraph in Article 32 of the Waste Management Act, where bundles that have more than 50 plastic bags will be exempt from the fee.

The other amendment in the bill to the plastic bag fee system is to make arrangements for the plastic bag fee to be included for stores that do not have GST registration, with the ministry being required to write up a guideline for fees taken in such situations.

The bill states it is the responsibility of the ministry to ensure plastic bag fees are included for places that do not have GST registration.

As the Waste Management Act currently stands, the plastic bag fee is to be observed repeatedly. Wholesalers are required to pay MVR 2 per plastic bag bought in bulk from places such as  shops, roadside cafés and restaurants.

Many people have been expressing concern ever since the Waste Management Act came into force, due to the fee being repeatedly imposed when supplying plastic bags.