Afpedia Products For Sellers For Buyers Trade Shows Industrial Cluster

Online Translation

Sign In

Join Now

Help

简体中文

Ban on plastic bags starts in Kenya

Ban on plastic bags starts in Kenya

Image from www.standardmedia.co.ke


The ban on plastic bags, which takes effect today, has caught most traders off-guard despite a six-month notice by the Government. A spot check by The Standard showed that most small-scale traders in Nairobi’s Muthurwa market had not bought alternative packaging materials for their goods.

Ms Hannah Wangare, a fruits and cereals vendor at the market, said she was yet to get pocket-friendly wrapping materials. “Customers will just have to come prepared. Packaging of cereals will, however, not be a big issue because we have the brown khaki bags but then again if someone is buying more than five kilogrammes how will they be able carry the product?” posed Wangare. 

She added that the brown bags will also pose a challenge when it rains because they easily soak in water hence ruining the contents in the bag. While calling for pocket friendly and reasonable alternative, Wangare urged the Government to crack the whip on manufacturers and distributors rather than lay blame on end users. 

Supermarkets were also racing against time to clear their current stocks. Customers were being given too many paper bags despite the quantity of goods bought. One customer at a leading chain of supermarkets joked that it was the first time each of his products was being packed separately. 

The Government has maintained its stand on the ban through Gazette notice number 2356 made on February 28, 2017 by Environment Cabinet Secretary Judi Wakhungu, despite opposition from manufacturers.

The High Court last week also ruled against a case filed by two plastic bags importers and declined to suspend the ban, saying the need to conserve the environment overrides commercial interests. The notice banned the use, manufacture and importation of all plastic bags used for commercial and household packaging to be effected on August 28, 2017. 

Anyone, including consumers, flouting the ban will face between one and two years jail term or a fine of between Sh2 million and Sh4 million. According to National Environment Management Authority (Nema), the papers contribute 9 per cent of total waste and create over 90 per cent of the environmental degradation. 

Across the country, several towns have a recorded a rush for alternative shopping bags as the ban  kicks off. In Nakuru, residents and business people visited supermarkets to buy environmental-friendly bags to replace the plastics carriers. A spot check by The Standard, however, showed that there was no supply of the bags despite the high demand in the supermarkets.

Advertising
As an authority of media industry, we can provide you integrated brand communication on your products! Reasonable advertising prices will let you enjoy great over-valued service!”
Customized Service
Customized information such as product prices, company trends, market forecasts, price curves, etc. will help you fully grasp the latest trend!
Investigation
Tailor-made, in-depth, professional research reports which will explore the business opportunities is your effective decision-making reference!
Data
Professional and accurate trade data will help you break through the export bottleneck of products, track peer dynamics, and grasp industry trends!
Others

Buyers Suppliers

Hot Search