Nairobi, 7th June 2018 – In a statement read on his behalf on World environment day 2018, President Museveni noted that the continued manufacture, use and poor disposal practices associated with plastics have added to the accumulation of the hazardous materials in the environment. For the second time, the Ugandan President banned the use of the plastic bags and ordered 45 manufacturers to stop churning the products This is in line with a shelved law which had previously barred the use of plastic bags. With this move, Uganda joins Kenya and Rwanda in what might become a force of East Africa nations leading the way for a plastic- free Africa.
Reacting to this, Greenpeace Africa’s Food for Life Campaigner, Ms.Claire Nasike has said: “This is a great move for Uganda. With the polythene bag sector in Uganda estimated to be worth millions of dollars, the responsible parties must now ensure that the ban is enforced effectively and manufacturers seeking to protect the industry brought to book. The National Environmental Management Authority (NEMA) Uganda, needs to properly sensitized the public on the dangers arising from the use of plastics and their effect on the environment. Additionally it needs to ensure that the implementation of this ban is effectively put in place by all the stakeholders so as not to hit a snag like the previous ban.”
Notes:
According to a UN report : Single use plastics: a road map for sustainability, up to 5 trillion plastic bags are used worldwide each year. Only 9 percent of the 9 billion tonnes of plastic the world has ever produced has been recycled, Most ends up in landfills, dumps or in the environment. If current consumption patterns and waste management practices continue, then by 2050 there will be around 12 billion tonnes of plastic litter in landfills and the environment.
Contact:
[email protected], Greenpeace Africa Communications Officer, 0708 056 207