Disposed plastic bags.[photo/votekenya.co.ke]
The ban on plastic bags in the country though making progress is facing challenges with illegal use continuing to thrive in food, beverage, and fresh produce sector.
A spot check in various city markets, estates, retail and wholesale sector revealed the use of plastic bags is still rampant.
But even after the impact of the plastic ban is felt, PET plastic bottles have become the kings of trash, accumulating at a mind-boggling rate to create one of the biggest pollution headaches.
Major cities such as Nairobi, Mombasa and Kisumu, PET plastic bottles clear plastic mainly used for water and soda clogging sewerage and drainage systems remain an eyesore.
Rivers, lakes and other water bodies are not spared either, with the problem escalated by the poor behaviour of Kenyans of carelessly disposing of plastic bags and bottles everywhere.
The menace is a global challenge with the United Nations Environment Programme estimating that around 480 billion plastic bottles were sold globally in 2016.
This translates to a million bottles per minute or 20,000 per second.
The damage being done to the planet’s oceans was captured near a tranquil Carribean Island on what was termed “sea of plastic and styrofoam”.
Due to this fact, National Environment Management Authority (Nema) has given manufacturers of plastic bottles until April 30 to come up with a plan on how to recycle the bottles to curb environmental pollution.
Director General, Prof Geoffrey Wakhungu warned that failure to adhere to the directive might force the government to prohibit production and sale of plastic bottles.
The authority has also issued notices to markets flouting plastic bags ban that they risk closure.Apart from pollution, some water plastics bottles are harmful to health as they contain chemicals that may discharge into drinking water.
According to a United Nations report, Bisphenol A, or BPA, is one of the most commonly cited culprits and is found in hard plastic bottles.