Rwanda Issues Ban on Single-Use Plastics

The Problem with Plastic

In a move being lauded by environmentalists, Rwanda becomes the first country in East Africa to issue a complete ban on all single-use plastics. Retailers have three months to clear their stocks and find alternatives, while industrial users and producers of single-use plastics have a two-year deadline. The ban affects all plastic carry bags and other single-use plastic items such as wrappers, plastic containers, bottles, straws, plastic cutlery, folders, and balloons. Plastic duty-free bags are not authorized to be brought into the country. The country first adopted a law against plastic bags in 2008, and a new law gazetted in August this year adds to the list of other types of plastics deemed equally harmful to the environment.

In of June of this year, Tanzania joined Rwanda and Kenya—along with more than 60 other countries—that have banned, partly banned, or taxed single-use plastic bags.