State maintains tough stance on looming plastic bags ban

Plastic bags at a dumpsite in Nakuru County. FILE PHOTO | NMG 

By JAMES KARIUKI

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Summary

• Only plastic bags used in primary industrial packaging will be manufactured and circulated in Kenya after August 28.
• No other plastic item would be exempted from the ‘total ban’ under the new regulations, which also target dealers and retailers as well as users of the bags.
• Kenya’s 176 plastic bags makers are expected to declare their stocks and be ready to surrender surplus plastic bag stocks after the deadline for confiscation and destruction.

Only plastic bags used in primary industrial packaging will be manufactured and circulated in Kenya after August 28 when the ban on plastic bags ban takes effect, environment authorities said on Tuesday.

National Environment Management Authority (Nema) director-general Geoffrey Wahungu said no other plastic item would be exempted from the ‘total ban’ under the new regulations, which also target dealers and retailers as well as users of the bags.

“Plastic bags are usually manufactured for single use and generally tear or puncture after a first use making them some of the most visible components of roadside and shoreline litter,” Prof Wahungu said adding that the menace must be brought to an end.

Plastic bags are produced from oil and natural gas, and never fully biodegrade, remaining in the environment as small or even microscopic particles, essentially for hundreds of years.

Prof Wahungu’s warning follows Environment secretary Judi Wakhungu’s February 28 gazette notice that gave plastic bags manufacturers a six-month grace period to clear their stocks and plan to destroy any surplus stock ahead of coming into force of the new law.

Nema said it would allow sale and use of paper, clothing, canvas, sisal and papyrus based bags as replacements for plastic bags.

Prof Wahungu said the agency would not even allow use of refuse plastic bags and asked local manufacturers to come up with innovative bio-degradable products that do not harm the environment.

“Exporters of one-off use plastic bags must cease to make them forthwith,” he said, adding that retail outlets are also expected to cease dealing in or issuing plastic bags after August 28.

Kenya’s 176 plastic bags makers are expected to declare their stocks and be ready to surrender surplus plastic bag stocks after the deadline for confiscation and destruction.

Those found culpable of making or circulating plastic bags risk paying a fine of between Sh2 million to Sh4 million or serve jail terms of between one to four years or both.

A joint study conducted by Nema, the Kenya Institute of Public Policy Research and Analysis and the United Nations Environmental Programme found that retail chains dish out up to 100 million plastic bags to shoppers annually.

The ban is also expected to hit small-scale traders who use plastic bags to package their wares – including sliced kales, spinach and cabbages as well as mandazis and kerosene -- hardest.

While issuing a notice on the ban, Prof Wakhungu said plastic bags had adversely effected soil quality, caused livestock deaths and endangered human health when used to package hot food.

Plastic bags also emit hazardous gases when used as fuel to light charcoal, she said