Greenpeace says out of 54 African countries, 34 have either passed a law outlawing plastics with implementation or passed a law with the intention of implementation. Of those, 16 have totally banned carrier bags or have done so partly, without yet introducing regulations to enforce the restrictions. The East African state Eritrea was the first to embrace an outright sanction on plastic bags in 2005. The outstanding achievers though are Kenya and Rwanda. Importing, manufacturing or selling single-use plastic bags could earn companies a fine of $40,000, while using one could see individuals fined a whopping $500 in Kenya. In Rwanda, a national ban in 2008 on non-biodegradable plastic bags was instituted, prohibiting the making, use, import and sale of bags. To speed up the adoption of a circular economy mindset, and establish what has worked in the past, the Institute of Waste Management of Southern Africa (IWMSA) is hosting WasteCon 2022 in October.
SOURCE: FORBES AFRICA
More Stories
Senegalese Chef Pierre Thiam Wants African Food to be Considered World-Class
Africa Avant-Garde: Transformative Architecture
Nine Must-See Queer History Spots in Africa
Africa Fashion Up Contest Celebrates Future of African Style
Abel Selaocoe Finds a Home in Improvisation
Movie about African Warrior Queen a Hit at the Box Office
One of the Zambia’s Best-kept Secrets
Africa’s Largest Air Cargo Operator Bags Two Prestigious Awards at Air Cargo News Awards
Namibia Calls Out to Adventurous Hikers
A New Bespoke 21-day African Luxury Itinerary
Tough Times Lie Ahead for Banks in Africa
The Most Prominent Challenge Female Entrepreneurs Face across Sub-Saharan Africa