NEMA Issues Notice Banning Non-woven Shopping Bags -

The National Environmental Management Authority NEMA) has issued a notice to ban Non-woven polypropylene on March 31. This directive comes barely two years after NEMA banned production and supply of polythene bags in February of 2017

They said that the cost effectiveness of producing the bags led companies to produce low quality bags that could only be used for a single use and that would eventually lead to environmental degradation as a result of poor disposal.

“This single-usage of these bags will eventually lead to heavy environmental consequences due to poor disposal practices currently being experienced in the country and coupled with lack of requisite infrastructure to sustainably manage these bags.”the statement from NEMA stated.

The Authority has since barred manufacturers and suppliers from distributing the bags until the Kenya Bureau of standards gives direction on the quality of non woven bags that will be allowed in the Kenyan market.

Read:Central Bank Of Kenya Set To Abolish 14% Interest Cap On Loans

“All the manufacturers, suppliers and users of these non woven polypropylene should STOP manufacture, supply and use of these bags until the Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS) that will inform the quality of the non- woven bags needed in the Kenyan market,” NEMA directed.