Kenya Enforces Toughest Ban on Plastic Bags

Plastic Bag & Cat” by Eric licensed under CC BY 2.0

Source: New York Times

Kenya is enforcing one of the world’s toughest bans on plastic bags, putting anyone who is making, selling or important plastic bags in jail for up to four years or placing a $19,000 to $38,000 fine. Kenya is thought to use 100 million plastic bags per year.

The new law was announced earlier this year and went live this week.

At least 40 other countries have implemented taxes or bans on plastic bags as well, because they are large contributors to ocean pollution, killing thousands of fish every year.

Similar bans have led to improved use of reusable bags, such as in Britain, where use dropped by more than 80%.

In the U.S. California and Hawaii have bans on non-biodegradable bags.

Read full story at: New York Times

Environment, News
Environment, News