Kenya Leads African Countries in Fight Against Plastic Pollution

SEATTLE (Scrap Monster): The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) has highlighted Kenya as the leader among African countries in its fight against plastic pollution. It commended the policy actions by the government and strict law enforcement that resulted in limiting the consumption of plastics in the country.

Juliette Biao, UNEP Regional Director for Africa noted that Kenya was the first among the East African nations to prohibit the use of plastic bags and ban plastic bottles, cups and cutlery in its national parks. In addition, the country had become a member of the Clean Seas Initiative, which in turn has helped it to limit the flow of plastic into waterways, thus reducing marine litter.

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The local governments in the country have been working closely with communities, in partnership with private sector and UNEP, in setting up ambitious plastic waste management programme. UNEP urged the other East African community to scale and replicate the successful model implemented in Kenya.

Kenya witnessed increased investment in plastic recycling over the past several years. The country upscaled environmental awareness on plastic pollution.

The investment in recycling infrastructure has created hundreds of jobs and spurred economic growth.