Burundi Becomes the Latest African Nation to Ban Plastic Bags

SEATTLE (Scrap Monster): The East African nation of Burundi declared that the proposed ban on use of plastic bag will come into effect starting August 22, 2019. The country decided to bring forward the implementation of the ban, ahead of the earlier deadline granted to phase out plastic bags.

The government had banned all imports of plastic bags, non-biodegradable bags and raw materials used to manufacture them, through a decree signed by President Pierre Nkurunziza on August 13, 2018. As per the decree, the enforcement of the ban would begin after a period of 18 months, so as to allow enough time for retailers to phase out their available stocks and orders already placed by them. Accordingly, the ban was supposed to come into effect in February next year.

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Announcing the decision, Environment Minister Déo-Guide Rurema stated that the government has decided to impose the ban ahead of the deadline, after noticing widespread use of plastic bags in the country. He said that persons in possession of plastic bags will be punished in accordance with the law. He urged to boost the production and use of domestically produced, environment friendly bag alternatives instead.

The Burundi Revenue Authority data suggests that imports of plastic bags have surged higher significantly during the 11-month period after the decree was issued, as compared with the 11 months before that. The imports of raw materials too have risen sharply during this period.

Burundi now joins other African nations such as Eritrea, Rwanda, Kenya, Morocco that have already enforced ban on plastics.