#banplasticsKE Ban use of plastics below 30 microns. The debate about banning plastics has been on for a long time now. On the one hand, the opponents will cite loss of business while the supporters claim that plastics, just like cigarettes, are a major health hazard. I believe that plastic, due to its non-biodegradable nature, has done more harm that good. It is high time that we began the conversation. Although plastics have certain benefits to human beings, they are a major source of air and water pollution. Our rivers are filled with tonnes of plastic waste, as are the dump sites. The biggest problem with light plastic is that it can easily be carried by wind and water and, therefore, you will find it everywhere. When burnt, they release massive amounts of carbon into the air, and they have also been blamed for clogging drainage pipes and trenches. East African countries lack policies to effectively manage plastic waste management. What we have are institutions with staff who sit in offices and get paid for it. Kenya’s National Environment Management Authority (Nema) is a good example. If it has any power to control waste then it should use them to get rid plastics. The only country in the EAC to successfully ban and manage plastic waste is Rwanda. In 2007, Kenya proposed to ban plastics of 30 microns and below but, from the look of things, the campaign died. The bigger picture is that plastic paper of 60 microns is biodegradable and can be recycled to plant tree seedlings. Governments should reduce the cost of setting up recycling plants to create incentives to investors. We can turn waste into profit. JWAKIBIA #theeastafrican
Posted on: Sun, 09 Mar 2014 11:10:06 +0000