The National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) has issued a notice prohibiting the use of trash bags and bin liners, and it will go into force in 90 days.
“The Authority hereby directs that within 90 days from the date of this notice: All organic waste generated by households, private sector and public sector institutions, religious institutions, private and public functions and events; shall strictly be segregated and placed in 100% biodegradable garbage bags/ bin liners only,” said NEMA.
“The waste collected in 1 above shall be collected separately (not mixed with other waste types) and transported to a designated Material Recovery Facility for further processing,” NEMA added.
Additionally, NEMA demanded that the collection of organic waste no longer be done using traditional plastic bags or bin liners.
It is mandated that all County Governments and NEMA-licensed private trash management providers only offer 100% biodegradable garbage bags and bin liners to their clients.
In 2017, the Kenyan government, acting through the Cabinet Secretary of the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources, outlawed the production, importation, and use of plastic carrier bags and flat bags intended for use in domestic and commercial packaging through Gazette Notice Nos. 2334 and 2356. Bin liners and trash bags were among them.
All public and private sector institutions must separate non-hazardous garbage into organic and non-organic fractions, according to Section 12 of the Sustainable garbage Management Act, 2022.
Furthermore, according to this clause, the separated garbage must be put in appropriately labelled, color-coded bins, containers, and bags. That all waste service providers should gather, manage, and deliver waste that has been separated.
