Kenya bans manufacture and use of non-woven polypropylene bags

NAIROBI, March 19 (Xinhua) -- Kenya has banned the importation, manufacture, supply and use of non-woven polypropylene bags following increased pollution.

Geoffrey Wahungu, director-general of the National Environment Management Authority (Nema) said on Tuesday that the ban takes effect on March 31.

"Due to the rising need of non-woven bags in the market, it has been noted that manufacturers of these bags are producing 'low gauge' poor quality bags which cannot be used multiple times but are disposed after single use," said Wahungu in a statement.

The single-usage of the bags has led to environmental consequences due to poor disposal habits currently being witnessed in the country coupled with lack of infrastructure to manage the bags, Wahungu said.

The authority consequently directed all manufacturers, importers, users and suppliers to stop trading in the non-woven polypropylene bags by end of the month.

Following the ban, Nema said the Kenya Bureau of Standards will issue new standards on the quality of bags that can be used in the market.

The ban on non eco-friendly shopping bags is the second in about two years after Kenya banned polythene bags in September 2017.

The ban, lauded by environmentalist globally, has been termed as one of the strictest and a boost to environmental conservation efforts.