Govt Bans Use of Garbage Bags and Bin Liners
On Monday, April 22, the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) prohibited the usage of plastic trash bags and bin liners.
NEMA mentioned in a statement that in 2017, the government prohibited the production, import, and use of plastic carrier bags and flat bags used for both commercial and household packaging.
The Authority announced that they would enforce measures to ensure complete compliance with the regulations.
“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 percent biodegradable garbage bags/ bin liners only,” the statement read in part.
Moreover, it was noted that every household must separate their organic waste and ensure it is taken to a specific Material Recovery Facility for further handling.
“The use of conventional plastic bags/bin liners for collection of organic waste shall thus cease forthwith,” NEMA directed.
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All county governments and private waste service providers authorized by NEMA were mandated to offer their customers completely biodegradable garbage bags or bin liners nationwide to enforce the directive.
The ban was implemented by NEMA based on Section 12 of the 2022 Sustainable Waste Management Act. This section mandates that all organizations, whether in the public or private sector, must separate non-hazardous waste into organic and non-organic categories.
All homeowners and households were directed to label and color code their bins, containers, and bags of their segregated waste.
“All waste service providers to collect, handle and transport segregated waste,” it was directed further.
According to the Sustainable Waste Management Act 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.
Govt Bans Use of Garbage Bags and Bin Liners
