The National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) has banned the use of plastic garbage bags in Kenya.
In a statement on Monday April 22, NEMA said the prohibition is in compliance with section 12 of the Sustainable Waste Management Act, 2022 which requires that all public and private sector entities segregate non-hazardous waste into organic and non-organic fractions.
The authority directed that within 90 days from today, citizens should ensure environmentally sound management of the organic waste fraction.
“All organic waste generated by households, private sector and public sector institutions, religious institutions, private and public functions and events; shall strictly be segregated and placed in 100% biodegradable garbage bags/ bin liners only,” the statement reads in part.
NEMA further instructed that the waste collected in biodegradable bags shall be collected separately (not mixed with other waste types) and transported to a designated Material Recovery Facility for further processing.
Also Read: The Race Between Our Planet and Our Plastics
NEMA Bans Use of Plastic Garbage Bags
“The use of conventional plastic bags/ bin liners for collection of organic waste shall thus cease forthwith,” the statement further read.
The authority also directed all the county governments and private sector to provide Kenyans with 100 percent biodegradable garbage bags.
“All County Governments and private waste service providers licensed by NEMA are required to provide to their clients the 100% biodegradable garbage bags/ bin liners only,” NEMA further noted.
All homeowners and households were directed to properly label their bins, containers and bags of their segregated waste.
“All waste service providers to collect, handle and transport segregated waste,” NEMA directed further.
Also Read: NEMA Details Plan Saving Ngong River
Banning of Plastic Carrier Bags
The Government of Kenya (through the Cabinet Secretary Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources) in 2017 vide Gazette notice Nos. 2334 & 2356 banned the manufacture, importation and use of plastic carrier bags and flat bags used for commercial and household packaging.
This included garbage bags and bin liners in its scope.
It was during this period that the Kenyan market was flooded with Non-woven Polypropylene bags to replace the carrier bags in various retail outlets/stores/shops.
The non-woven bags were known to bear positive characteristics in terms of reusability and durability as opposed to the conventional plastic carrier bags.
Do you want to be part of an updated community without the interruptions of unwanted messages? Click the link below and join our WhatsApp Channel!
https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaB3k54HltYFiQ1f2i2C
