Nairobi 7 June 2019 – Responding to president Uhuru Kenyatta’s pronouncement to ban single-use plastic products including plastic bottles and straws in all protected areas effective June 5 2020, Greenpeace Africa’s Senior political Advisor Frederick Njehu has said:
“With this ban Kenya will be a step closer to fulfilling its commitment to the United Nations Environment Clean Seas Campaign, which seeks to counter the consequences of plastic pollution in the seas and oceans.
“Half of all plastics wastage emanates from plastic packaging, and much of it is thrown away within just a few minutes of its first use. When discarded in landfills or in the environment, plastic can take up to a thousand years to decompose.
“Research shows that 94% of the plastic that enters the ocean ends up on the seafloor; Barely 1% of marine plastics are found floating at or near the ocean surface; and that 5% ends up on beaches. Greenpeace Africa is calling on the president to issue a total ban on all single use plastics in all areas to curb the plastic crisis.
“Greenpeace Africa calls on the National Environmental Management Authority (NEMA) to come up with stringent measures to ensure that there is 100% enforcement come June 2020. NEMA and all the stakeholders should also conduct country-wide consultations towards coming up with new regulations on single-use plastics to include other single use plastics such as bottles, straws, plastic cups, spoons, folks, plates and packaging materials.”
Media Contact:
Hellen Dena, Communication Officer – Greenpeace Africa, [email protected], +254 717 104144
Discussion
To all involved with this initiative, thanking you all for every bit that you are doing. The Earth has and is still taking such a hammering due to inhuman behaviour and it is a marvel that nature has not quit on us yet. Nature and wildlife sure is suffering and so many wish that all of a sudden all of humanity could wake up to this reality and just bite the bullet for a time being by stepping back to give nature a chance to repair itself. Each person who is willing, is doing whatever they possibly can for this to take place. Fortunatley and unfortunately, everything must run its course. At present, I do not have money to donate (but when I do, I will), so since January of this year I have been picking up plastic on the beach every morning and afternoon, come rain or shine. I am currently trying to figure out a way to be able to gather plastic beads the size of popcorn kernals that has washed up on shore and lying on the dunes between other bits of plastic waste without gathering the sand along. If anyone can advise, that would be fantastic. Also, to then dispose of the plastic waste that I have gathered so that it does not end up on a landfill or the like and pollute again? It would be wonderful to see plastic production be done away with in its entirety. Most honestly, plastic manufacturing plants need to be converted into something else that won't harm the environment and people don't lose their jobs. As for majority of the consumers of plastic who remain ignorant and irresponsible, they then won't have plastic to litter. May we all win at each task for the common good. Warm regards.
Thank you Natasha for everything that you have done. We need more people like you if we are going to win the fight against Plastic. We are currently working on #PlasticFreeJuly. Keep up the good fight and keep us updated.