GABORONE, June 18 (Xinhua) -- Botswana is working towards finalizing the modalities aimed at eradicating the use of plastic bags across the country, according to a top official of the Botswana's environment ministry.

Thabang Botshoma, deputy Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Environment Natural Resources Conservation and Tourism, told Xinhua Monday that his ministry has already developed the modalities for the implementation of regulations that will ban plastic bags.

"We are putting measures and systems in place," said Botshoma on the sidelines of a meeting with municipal officials of the City of Francistown in Botswana's second largest city.

Botshoma said municipalities should be proactive in ensuring that measures and systems are in place at all cost.

He said municipalities are expected to provide residents with waste or plastic disposal bins.

"Plastic bags are harmful to animals and the environment. And we are doing everything within our power to ensure cities as well as rural areas are free of plastic bags," he said.

Towards the end of last month, the Department of Waste Management and Pollution Control(DWMPC) kicked off nationwide consultations on the planned ban of plastic carrier and flat bags.

The government of Botswana is working towards total eradication of plastic bags following the realization that the carrier bags are made of materials which do not biodegrade thereby posing a negative impact on the environment, health and animals.