A Nakuru based lobby group has started collecting signatures in a bid to have the county government introduce a Bill seeking to ban plastic bags.
The group, 'Street Nakuru', has been distributing files to the residents seeking to collect 10,000 signatures that will prompt the county government to act.
Led by environment activist James Wakibia, the residents claimed the issue was not being given as much attention as it deserved.
“Unfortunately even the sewages and drainages are choking with papers. We need to control the amount of plastic bags that are being littered in the area by especially creating a law that will see heavy punishment meted on companies that violate them," said Mr Wakibia.
Mr Wakibia is also seeking to introduce a fine for any individual found carrying plastic bags.
“It has worked successfully in Rwanda and the same initiative should be introduced in the country if we are to control the menace,” he added.
Julius Koech, another environmentalist called on the supermarkets to reward customers who carried recycle bags and charge those who did not.
“With the continuous habits by supermarkets in distributing polythene bags, residents are left with no option but to pick them. If supermarkets can sell each at Sh5 or at least give customer loyalty points to the ones who use recyclable bags,” he added.
They were speaking to the press in Nakuru on Wednesday.