NEMA: Kenya's Single-Use Plastic Ban Is 95% Success

SEATTLE (Scrap Monster): The Kenyan National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) announced that the success rate of ban imposed on single-use plastics in the country has hit 95%. Before the ban in 2017, the country’s supermarkets consumed around 100 million plastic bags per year. This number has reduced drastically, the government agency noted.

Mamo Mamo, Director General, NEMA noted that various government agencies including the National Police Service, Directorate of Criminal Investigations, Customs police, Kenya Revenue Authority and Anti-Counterfeit Authority have played a commendable role in helping the country get rid of harmful plastics. The ban has helped to protect the environment and improve the living standards of citizens, NEMA noted.

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The Kenyan Ministry had published a gazette notice in end-February, 2017 to ban the use of plastic carrier bags. The ban came into effect in August, 2017. By law, possession of single use plastics will attract a hefty fine, 1-2 years of imprisonment or both. Later in June 2019, the country imposed ban on use of single-use plastics on beaches, national parks, forests and conservation areas.

Meantime, the smuggling of plastic bags from neighbouring nations such as Tanzania, Somalia and Uganda continues to remain as a threat, NEMA noted.