Environment Cabinet Secretary Judy Wakhungu. Her ministry has been hailed for the ban on plastic bags. [Photo/buzzkenya.com]
The Green Belt Movement has commended the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources for the bold move to ban production and use of plastic bags.
The ban came into effect on Monday, August 28.
In a statement, Green Belt said every Kenyan has a right to a clean and healthy environment as stipulated in the Constitution and the Environmental Management and Coordination Act (EMCA) 1999, which provides the legal framework to ensure environmental protection.
The organisation said the ban was timely and will contribute towards reducing effects associated with use and improper disposal of plastics.
“It will contribute greatly to reducing the effects associated with the use and improper disposal of plastics. Besides the littering problem which is apparent in most Kenyan urban centers, plastic waste, air pollution, habitat destruction, human health problems - that include lung and respiratory disorders and animal deaths, are but a few of the other complications.”
The Green Belt Movement’s Mottainai campaign, initiated by the late Professor Wangari Maathai, has been advocating against plastic waste through the three R’s – Reduce, Reuse and Recycle.