NAIROBI, KENYA –  Environmental groups are calling on the Kenyan government to seal smuggling loopholes that allow illegal single-use plastics to flood local markets. The demand was made in Nairobi during the handover of policy recommendations to key decision-makers on the anniversary of Kenya’s landmark plastic bag ban.

The recommendations set out steps to enforce existing environmental laws and expand refill-and-reuse systems across the country. Nearly a decade after Kenya introduced one of the world’s toughest bans on single-use plastic carrier bags, campaigners warn that porous borders, illegal imports, and unregulated suppliers threaten to reverse gains.

Hellen Kahaso Dena, Plastics Project Lead at Greenpeace Africa, said:

“Kenya is uniquely positioned to lead Africa toward a plastic-free future through its pioneering 2017 plastic bag ban and prohibitions in protected areas, but only if enforcement is strict and consistent. Refill and reuse of packaging represents a major opportunity to cut material waste. Refill and reuse is not new; in African culture, it has existed since time immemorial.”

While the 2017 prohibition initially cut carrier bag use by 80%, illegal packaging streams and thin, non-woven bags continue to slip through into informal urban markets. Civil society groups point out that while the Sustainable Waste Management Act of 2022 and the 2024 Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) regulations acknowledge refill models, they lack binding legal mandates for manufacturers to adopt returnable packaging.

“The carrier bag ban addressed one source of plastic pollution, other unnecessary packaging remains largely unregulated. Stronger policies are needed to promote waste prevention, reuse and refill, while preventing toxic chemicals in plastic products and packaging. Producer responsibility must also go beyond collection and disposal. Producers should reduce unnecessary packaging, eliminate toxic chemicals, design products that are safe for human health and the environment  and invest in reuse and refill systems. Without clear legal mandates, manufacturers will continue to manage waste rather than prevent it at source,” said Ledoner Okeyo Centre for Environment Justice and Development (CEJAD). 

“Plastic pollution begins affecting nature long before it becomes visible as litter. Preventing waste at source through refill and reuse systems is one of the most effective ways to reduce pressure on ecosystems,” added Yvonne Khaemba, World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF Kenya). “Coupled with stronger corporate leadership and investment across the full lifecycle of packaging, this approach protects biodiversity, conserves resources, and accelerates the transition to a circular economy.

Highlighting the human impact on frontline communities, Joyce Wangari of the Kenya National Waste Pickers Association, emphasised the need for an inclusive transition:

“For our communities, plastic pollution is a daily reality. Those of us living near dumpsites face toxic air, contaminated water, and severe health risks every day. Integrating frontline waste workers into official refill-and-reuse frameworks ensures fair working conditions and dignity for the people keeping our cities clean.”

Key Policy Demands

To halt the flow of illegal plastics, the coalition is urging the Ministry of Environment and NEMA to crack down on illicit cross-border supply chains and update EPR rules to enforce binding targets for returnable packaging. The recommendations demand that manufacturers assume full lifecycle responsibility by shifting investment from post-disposal collection into waste prevention, while formally integrating and compensating frontline waste pickers in national circular economy plans.

ENDS

The policy document can be accessed here

Media contacts:

Sherie Gakii, Communication Manager, Greenpeace Africa, +254 702 776 749, [email protected] 

Greenpeace Africa Pressdesk: [email protected]