Tanzanian govt issues official warning on plastic ban

On Thursday, May 16, the government of Tanzania has issued an official warning to people not to carry plastic bags with them effective from June 1, 2019. The intention of East African country is to protect the environment.

The warning released by Tanzanian government includes that the dumping areas would be demarcated with further warning that whosoever violates the rule will have to pay a fine up to 20m/-.

"All plastic carrier bags, regardless of their thickness will be prohibited from being imported, exported, manufactured, sold, stored, supplied and used in mainland Tanzania," the Office of the Vice President of Tanzania said in a statement.

The districts will allocate dumping areas of trashed plastic bags, where the public will be further well informed on next move, the NEMC Director General, Samuel Gwamaka said. He said that regulations made under the Environment Act of 2004, stipulate a 20m/- fine to a convicted importer and exporter of banned bags.

This includes production, storage and distribution, which will also attract a 10m/- fine, where selling will force one to pay 100,000/- as a fine, while a person, who will be seen carrying or using it will pay 30,000/- as a penalty," he pointed out.

"At the moment we have 25 local industries producing paper bags, and other industries producing other types of alternative bags. Production of such bags is expected to increase in the very near future," he added.

The travellers have been advised to avoid carrying plastic bags or items in plastic carrier bags in the suitcase before commencing a journey to Tanzania. "The government does not intend for visitors to Tanzania to find their stay unpleasant as we enforce the ban. However, the government expects that, in appreciation of the imperative to protect the environment and keep our country clean and beautiful, our visitors will accept minor inconveniences resulting from this plastic bags ban," the statement reads.

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