Tanzania Bans Plastic Bags

Plastic bags have devastating effects on environment

Dodoma — THE government has banned manufacturing of plastic bags in the country and those still producing the bags should be reported to authorities.

Likewise those importing the plastic bags be taken to task, the deputy minister of State in the Vice- President’s Office (Environment), Mr Stephen Masele, told parliament on Tuesday.

Mr Masele was responding to a supplementary question from Ms Christowaja Mtinda (Special Seats – Chadema) who wanted to know when the government would close plastic bag manufacturing industries then address importers.

Deputy Minister Masele urged the members of parliament and the public to work together with the government to address the problem, noting that the government through the National Environment Management Council (NEMC) will continue to take legal actions against those found manufacturing or importing.

Mr Masele was responding to the basic question from Ms Mkiwa Kimwanga (Special Seats – CCM), who sought to know the government’s position on plastic bags whose effect on the environment is devastating.

She also wanted to know side effects on humans of using plastic bags to store hot food. Mr Masele said the government has outlawed plastic bags with under 30 microns and advocated for use of alternative bags.

The thinner plastic found in plastic bags of under 30 microns makes it lighter which is easily blown away by wind. The deputy minister noted that the government prepared regulations to control import, manufacturing, and distribution and selling of plastic bags of not more than 30 microns in 2006.

“The government through NEMC continues to conduct inspections, in manufacturing industries, companies and shops manufacturing and distributing the plastic bags to ensure they follow the law.

He said side effects of using plastic bags to store hot food include the chemicals used to make the bags might cause cancer, cause blindness and indigestion.

Zanzibar banned use of plastic bags under 100 microns in 2005 and offenders are fined up to US 2,000 dollars or six months in prison or both.

In 2012 the East African Community (EAC) passed the Polythene Material Control Bill of 2011 to regulate plastic bags under 100 microns. Uganda, Kenya and Rwanda have also banned use of plastic bags, with Uganda going further to ban any product made of very thin plastic below 100 microns.

The proliferation of plastic bags and plastic containers across the country and other EAC states has become an eyesore and and a catastrophe to the environment.

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Source: Tanzania Daily News

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