ConservingNow Community Change

From July 1, 2007, the government passed a law that stated that the manufacture, import and use of plastic bags thinner than 30 microns will be banned. All other polythene will be subject to a 120% tax.

In Uganda, plastic bags were being used as latrines in the cities slums, and it was very likely that after the rains washed away the contents of the bags, the bags were being reused by residents to carry food, household goods or firewood.

Additionally, Ugandans objected to the state of litter in their cities caused by the plastic bags.

On June 14, 2007, Kenya also banned plastic bags citing the same reasons as Uganda. Additionally, Kenya also imposed a tax on polythene.

In 2006, Zanzibar also banned plastic bags saying plastic bags were hurting the marine environment as well as tourism.

"We have to put the environment above everything," Zanzibar's Director of Environment Ali Juma said. “Besides being an eyesore, plastic bags are very damaging to land and marine life and we are already threatened by the rapid pace of development.”

For more information:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/from_our_own_correspondent/6253564...

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/6754127.stm

http://www.suite101.com/blog/ethekwinigirl/east_african_ban_on_plastic_bags