Govt Bans All Plastic Garbage Bags

The National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) has announced a ban on the use of plastic garbage bags and bin liners.

In a statement on Monday, April 22, NEMA revisited a 2017 directive which saw the government impose a blanket ban on the manufacture, importation and use of plastic carrier bags and flat bags used for commercial and household packaging.

Therefore, NEMA warned of a crackdown within 90 days to ensure that the directive was enforced.

A photo of different types of waste disposable dust bins. /MICOOPE

"From the foregoing therefore and to 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.

"The waste collected in 1 above shall be collected separately (not mixed with other waste types) and transported to a designated Material Recovery Facility for further processing. The use of conventional plastic bags/ bin liners for collection of organic waste shall thus cease forthwith," read the statement in part.

All County Governments and private waste service providers licensed by NEMA will also be required to provide their clients with 100 per cent biodegradable garbage bags or bin liners only.

NEMA referred to 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.

Furthermore, the segregated waste be placed in properly labelled and colour-coded receptacles, bins, containers and bags.

All waste service providers are additionally mandated to collect, handle and transport segregated waste.

The Sustainable Waste Management Act stipulates that Kenyans who do not obey the directive upon conviction will be fined a sum not exceeding Ksh20,000 or imprisonment for a term not exceeding six months or both.

NEMA's directive will be seen as a method of enhancing garbage collection in the country, particularly in Nairobi and other major cities after the illegal dumping of plastic waste has contributed to environmental pollution and clogging of drainage systems, cited as the cause of the heavy flooding witnessed in the city.