Imprisonment and fines of up to 38 thousand dollars for using plastic bags in Kenya
hace 8 year
According to the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP), 8 million tons of plastic leak into the sea every year and the use of plastic bags clearly contributes to this problem. Since 2007, the Kenyan government has been trying to take various actions against the excessive use of plastic bags, such as reducing the thickness of the bags. Yesterday, August 28, the law banning the use, manufacture and importation of plastic bags came into force.
What is this new regulation about? From now on, anyone who fails to comply with the official provision on plastic bags will get a fine of not less than two million Kenyan shillings ($19,427) and not more than four million Kenyan shillings ($38,885), or to a prison sentence of between one and four years.
The main objective of this prohibition is to avoid the environmental effects derived from its mismanagement:
- Inability to decompose, which affects soil quality.
- Presence of leftover plastic bags in different parts of the country.
- They block sewage and water drainage networks, causing flooding during the rainy season.
- Ecosystems and biodiversity are severely damaged.
- Death of animals after ingestion of plastic material.
- Endanger human health when used to package food, particularly hot food;
- Poisonous gases and when used as fuel for light coal.
- Air pollution when disposed of by burning in the open air.
In Kenya, plastic is used as a packaging material and bags are distributed in commercial establishments. Research conducted by the Kenya Environmental Management Authority (NEMA) in collaboration with UNEP and the Centre for Public Policy Research and Analysis (KIPPRA) revealed that 100 million plastic bags are distributed free of charge every year in supermarkets in Kenya's major cities alone.
Plastic bags are one of the main challenges in urban waste disposal in the African country, especially in poorer communities where access to waste management systems and health care is more limited.
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