5 things you need to know about the plastic bag ban

ruby orimba

August 22, 2017 4:28 PM

The deadline is next week. Are you ready for a plastic bag free zone?

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The plastic bag ban has finally been set in motion with citizens warned of heavy fines if found in possession and companies sued if still manufacturing.

As Kenyans try adjust with the six month changes that are deadlined for end of this week, many are still asking questions considering the matter.

Here is all you need to know about the Plastic Bag Ban in Kenya.

1. Deadline

According to National Environment Management Assoiation, NEMA you should not be in possession of a plastic paper bag and no companies should manufacture plastic paper bags for sale after 28th August.

Any already produced should be used by then and if not the manufacturing companies should no citizen should surrender them to NEMA for the neccessary actions.

2. Fine

According to the laws, any one found in possession of a plastic bag will pay Sh2Million as fine. For the companies the ban fines Sh4Million.

3. Grace Period

Notice of the ban was Gazzetted on 14th March 2017 allowing a six months grace period that is due to end next Monday on 28th August 2017.

4. Exemptions

Compnies that use plastic bags for product companies are expemted from the Act, so long as they are used for industrial primary packaging at the source of the product and are not available on sale at the counter or given freely outside the industrial setting. However, the bags must be clearly labeled (printed) the name of the industry manufacturing the product and the end-user. This also includes, disposal bags for handling of biomedical and hazardous waste and garbage bin liners.

5. Alternatives

Following the guidelines as agreed with by the Kenya Beaurae of Standards (KEBs), the following have been allowed as alternatives for use of platic bags.

1. All bags made from non-plastic materials e.g. jute/sisal, Paper, cloth, Papyrus

2. Woven polypropylene plastic bags (gunny bags)

3. Non-woven polypropylene plastic bags (cloth-like bags)

4. Laminated polypropylene bags

5. Polyolefin fibre bags

6. 100% biodegradable bags (starch and cassava bags)