Tanzania to Ban Single Use Plastics, Joining Kenya, Rwanda and Uganda

Tanzania has become the latest African nation to announce a sweeping ban of single-use plastics, joining Kenya and Rwanda in the effort to tackle plastic pollution.

A statement released by the Tanzanian government says the ban will begin to take effect June 1. As of that date, all plastic carrier bags will be prohibited from being imported, exported, manufactured, sold, stored, supplied and used in mainland Tanzania.

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Visitors to Tanzania are being advised to avoid bringing any plastic carrier bags or packing items in plastic carrier bags in suitcases or hand luggage before embarking on a trip to Tanzania.

To help screen out plastics moving forward, there will be a special desk designated at all of the country’s entry points, where visitors will be asked to surrender plastic carrier bags. However, the government’s statement notes that Ziploc bags that are specifically used to carry toiletries will be permitted, as they are expected to remain in the possession of visitors and not disposed of while in the country.

A story from Reuters also reported that Tanzania plans to ban the production of such bags, as well as their sale and importation.

The East African nation is the latest country to make such a commitment with regard to plastic bags, which the United Nations has described as one of the world’s biggest environmental challenges.

Kenya introduced a ban in August 2017, which has been described as one of the toughest in the world. It punishes offenders with four years in prison or a fine of $40,000 for simply using a plastic bag, according to Reuters.

Meanwhile, in Rwanda, it is illegal to import, produce, use or sell plastic bags and plastic packaging except within specific industries like hospitals and pharmaceuticals, according to The New York Times.

The U.N. estimates that of the nine billion tons of plastic the world has produced, a mere nine percent has been recycled.