{"id":12075,"date":"2020-09-02T11:21:15","date_gmt":"2020-09-02T11:21:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/africa\/?p=12075"},"modified":"2021-12-01T12:42:18","modified_gmt":"2021-12-01T12:42:18","slug":"dont-let-africa-become-a-dumping-site-greenpeace-urges-cs-maina","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/africa\/en\/press\/12075\/dont-let-africa-become-a-dumping-site-greenpeace-urges-cs-maina\/","title":{"rendered":"Don\u2019t Let Africa Become a Dumping Site: Greenpeace Urges CS Maina"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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URGE THE KENYAN MINISTRY OF TRADE TO ACT NOW<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n
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Nairobi, 2 September 2020 – Following the release of the New York Times article<\/a>  and Greenpeace Africa\u2019s  Media Release <\/a> revealing that lobbyists from the American Chemistry Council wants to use the US-Kenya trade deal to expand plastic in Africa, Kenya\u2019s Trade Cabinet Secretary, Betty Maina has stated that Kenya will not accept any proposal that go against the country\u2019s environmental laws in the trade negotiations with the United States of America.<\/a><\/p>\n\n

Responding to these developments, Greenpeace Africa\u2019s Senior Political Advisor, Fredrick Njehu has said:<\/p>\n\n

\u201cThe plastics industry continues to play both sides, touting flashy initiatives like the Alliance to End Plastic Waste publicly, but working behind the scenes to use low and middle income countries as their dumping sites. CS Betty Maina must live up to that commitment.<\/p>\n\n

\u201cIn just 1 day, nearly 4,000<\/a> people have expressed concern about these development. The Cabinet secretary should consider this public outcry, if and when the Kenyan government is faced with the stringent  trade negotiation terms.<\/p>\n\n

\u201cThe African continent has become a world leader in phasing out plastic bags. Lobbying by the ACC<\/a> threatens the progress made by Kenya and other countries across Africa on plastic pollution. Increased plastic pollution will not only hurt our environment, but also vulnerable communities already disproportionately impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. <\/p>\n\n

\u201cThe proponents of single-use plastics continue to make an argument for recycling as a solution  to curb the pollution crisis. This is unsustainable as only around 9% of plastic waste actually gets recycled, while the rest is burned, landfilled, or polluting our environment. Greenpeace Africa urges the Ministry of Trade to say no to this deal.\u201d<\/p>\n\n

Notes to the Editor:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n