Mombasa, KENYA: The National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) has seized 1.7 tons of banned plastic bags in Mombasa.
The 8.5 million pieces of plastic bags were on transit from Tanzania by road.
Mombasa NEMA boss Stephen Wambua told Nation that police are in pursuit of the owner of the merchandise who is still at large.
“We impounded 17 bales of plastic bags which were found to have been offloaded from a Simba Coach bus registration number KBU 343C at the Simba Coach Offices at Mwembe tayari. Each bale is estimated to contain over 500,000 pieces,” Wambua said.
The government under the then Environment Cabinet Secretary Judi Wakhungu banned the use, manufacture and importation of plastic bags in the country in August last year.
IN EXERCISE of the powers conferred under section 3 and 86 of the Environmental Management and Co-ordination Act, it is notified to the public that the Cabinet Secretary for Environment and Natural Resources has with effect from 6 months from the date of this notice banned the use, manufacture and importation of all plastic bags used for commercial and household packaging defined as follows:
(a) Carrier bag—
bag constructed with handles, and with or without gussets;
(b) Flat bag—
bag constructed without handles, and with or without gussets,” reads the gazette notice dated 28th February 2017.
The impounded bags are currently at Central Police Station in Mombasa.
