NAIROBI, Kenya – In a step towards sustainable waste management, the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) has mandated the use of 100pc biodegradable garbage bags to collect organic waste, effective today.
This initiative follows the directive issued by NEMA on April 8, 2024, giving all public and private entities a 90-day period to comply with the new regulations.
The transition period allowed county governments and licensed waste service providers to shift to biodegradable bags, aiming to enhance environmental conservation efforts nationwide.
“All organic waste generated by households, private sector, and public sector institutions, and during private and public events, shall strictly be segregated and placed in 100% biodegradable garbage bags or bin liners only,” NEMA stated.
This directive is aligned with Section 12 of the Sustainable Waste Management Act, 2022.
The directive’s key highlights include the requirement that all garbage be collected using biodegradable garbage bags, which marks a departure from the ban on conventional plastic bags in 2017.
The directive also covers all public and private sector entities, ensuring that county governments and licensed waste service providers supply their clients with biodegradable bags.
Additionally, according to the Sustainable Waste Management Act, all non-hazardous waste must be segregated into organic and non-organic fractions and placed in appropriately labeled and color-coded receptacles, bins, containers, and bags.
The enforcement of this mandate represents a pivotal move to reduce plastic pollution and promote sustainable practices.
The 2017 ban on plastic carrier bags and flat bags aimed to curb the widespread environmental damage caused by non-biodegradable waste.
This new initiative builds on those efforts, emphasizing the importance of using environmentally friendly alternatives.
