Environmental body issues ultimatum on plastic bags

The Kenya Bureau of Standards has three months to ensure plastic bags companies comply with new regulations.

The National Environment Management Authority (Nema) issued the ultimatum to increase the gauge of the bags from the minimum 30 to 60 microns.

In a letter to the Kenya Bureau of Standards (Kebs), Nema has directed the revision of the standard gauge of plastic bags and wrappers, which was introduced by the Finance Bill of 2007.

In 2008, the environmental agency sought to have the plastic bags banned altogether.

However, they later softened their stand to accommodate the pleas from the manufacturers and set the weight limit to 30 microns.

And now Nema has issued a demand to have the bar raised by 100 percent saying “it is a bid to reduce the conflict between the manufacturers and the environment.”

“When considering financial gain for the manufacturer and the social impact the bags have on the environment, we have to act in the best interest of the environment,” said Nema chairman Francis Ole Kaparo.

The thicker bags will be recyclable and of more value, said Mr Kaparo adding that it would reduce the chances of it being littered as users would not want to carelessly dispose of it.

Nema says the 30 micron bags are very light and are blown around by wind creating an effect of “plastic flowers” in the landscape also posing as a major risk to animals.

East African neighbours have been ahead as Tanzania and Uganda had set the minimum weight limit to 60 microns while Rwanda moved to completely ban the use of the bags.

In what may seem as a blame game between Nema and plastic bags manufacturers, Nema reiterates that the manufacturers are out for the financial gain in continued productions of the bags.

Nema’s acting Director General Dr Ayub Macharia said that the effort made in 2008 to ban the plastic bags failed because the industry players negotiated to have weight limits instead.

“That endeavour was at the expense of the environment,” said Dr Macharia.

The three-month grace period stipulated is to allow the manufacturers to reconfigure their machines.

Nema says has its doors open to plastic bags producers who have the concern that the time provided would not suit them.

“We do not intend to kill businesses, but taking into account the need to conserve our environment for future generations,” said Mr Kaparo.

With the work cut out for Kebs, Nema officials say they will rely on its mandate, to ensure this demand is met, as provided in Section 12 of the Environmental Management and Coordination Act, 1999.

It states that Nema may give reasonable notice of its intention to an agency to perform its functions. Failure to which, Nema may carry out the same action but at the expense of the said agency.

Nema is also urging Kenyans to look into the various ways of recycling plastic bags and think of possible means of making money from the venture.

It is also proposing for the use of bags made from natural resources such as cotton, sisal and paper.