The National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) has issued a deadline on the ban of plastic garbage bags in Kenya.
NEMA said the government (through the Cabinet Secretary of the 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.
The authority mentioned that this included garbage bags and bin liners in its scope.
In a statement on July 8 NEMA directed that within a period of three months from June 8, 2024, citizens should ensure environmentally sound management of the organic waste fraction.
“The Authority hereby directs that within 90 days from the date of this notice, 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,” reads the statement in part.
The Authority Gives Direction on Garbage Collection
NEMA mentioned 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.
The authority announced that within the period listed, use of conventional plastic bags/ bin liners for collection of organic waste shall thus cease forthwith.
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Furthermore, the authority urged that County Governments and private waste service providers licensed by NEMA to provide to their clients the 100% biodegradable garbage bags/ bin liners only.
All homeowners and households were directed to properly label their bins, containers and bags of their segregated waste and waste service providers to collect, handle and transport segregated waste.
NEMA Urged to Extend Ban Period
The notice comes after private garbage collectors appealed to NEMA to review the compliance period set in the biodegradable bags transition process to allow for adequate testing, certification, and meaningful multi-sectoral dialogue.
The Waste and Environment Management Association (WEMAK), representing waste managers, raised concerns over NEMA’s plan to phase out plastic waste collection bags, commonly known as black bin bags, in favor of biodegradable alternatives.
They argued that NEMA proceeded with the plan without addressing issues raised during consultation forums.
The stakeholders in the garbage collection sector claimed that NEMA disregarded critical concerns voiced during public participation forums.
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They further highlighted unresolved issues such as waste segregation, Material Recovery Facilities (MRFs), take-back systems, and Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) programs.
“The hasty implementation of the biodegradable bag directive without addressing these foundational elements undermines the spirit of multi-sectoral collaboration and public participation enshrined in the Constitution and in section 23 of the Sustainable Waste Management Act,” said WEMAK Chairperson Samuel Onyancha.
NEMA, in a legal notice published on April 8, mandated a 90-day period for implementing the ban, which expires on Monday, July 8.
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