The plastic bag ban came into effect on Monday. Photo/allAfrica
The National Environmental Management Authority (NEMA) has reached out to Kenya Association of Manufacturers (KAM) in a bid to avert possible crises emanating from the plastic bag ban that came into effect on Monday 28.
NEMA together with the manufacturers’ body on Wednesday moved to establish a joint crisis committee that will be tasked with resolving all operational threats tied to the historic ban.
The ban however did not criminalise manufacture, importation and use of plastic bags for primary industrial packaging and garbage collection.
Nonetheless, NEMA requires all parties interested in plastic bags for primary industrial packaging to obtain clearance letters that will give them privilege to continue operating.
Reports indicate that hundreds of manufacturers of plastic bags had put on hold all operations after the ban came into force.
They allege that there were difficulties in obtaining the clearance certificate.
The manufacturers body KAM said the ban was a step in aiding the Kenyan environment sane even though most manufacturers were vividly opposed to the ‘haste’ in implementing the ban.
“What we believe as an association is we need a clean environment and economic development.”
“The middle ground is sustainable development. We want a situation that is a win-win for every Kenyan,” said KAM chief executive Phyllis Wakiaga.
NEMA director-general Prof Geoffrey Wahungu pledged that the agency would fast-track the clearance process to enable the manufacturers resume operation.
“We will fast-track the process so you can all go back to work,” he said.