Plastic waste has become one of the most pressing environmental challenges in the East African Community (EAC). The heavy reliance on single-use plastics (SUPs) and inadequate waste management has had tangible consequences. In urban centres like Nairobi, drainage systems are regularly clogged with plastic debris that washes up along the coasts of Kenya, Tanzania, Somalia, and even affects the environment of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). These impacts highlight the urgent need for coordinated regional action on plastic pollution.
In response to this mounting crisis, the EAC Partner States have made significant strides in tackling SUPs. All eight member states, Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, South Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), and Somalia, have implemented legislative measures, primarily targeting plastic carrier bags and certain other plastic items. Kenya, for instance, implemented a sweeping ban on plastic carrier bags in 2017 and later restricted single plastics in protected areas. Rwanda has long-standing prohibitions on certain plastic items. Tanzania, Uganda, Burundi, and the DRC have similarly introduced national legislations, regulations, or decrees addressing the manufacture, import, or use of various plastic packaging and bags.
Failure of Fragmentation: Why National Bans Are Not Enough
While these country-specific actions demonstrate commendable political intent, they have often struggled with inconsistent enforcement and resistance from key stakeholders, ultimately limiting overall progress. The fundamental flaw lies in the fragmented nature of these policies- inconsistencies in policy enforcement create loopholes that undermine environmental objectives. Plastics, after all, do not recognise national boundaries. A ban in one EAC Partner State can be easily undermined by the influx of cheap, noncompliant packaging manufactured or imported through a neighbouring country where regulations are weaker or nonexistent. This regulatory arbitrage creates loopholes, compromises environmental goals, and penalises compliant businesses. Eventually, each EAC Partner State pays for it with their health and the environment in which they live. It is now glaringly clear that national bans alone are not enough; a harmonised, regional approach is essential.
This necessity for a unified strategy is recognised globally, notably by the forthcoming Global Plastics Treaty, but also by the ambitious European Union’s Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulations (PPWR). For East Africa, this regional imperative is championed by the proposed EAC Bill on the Prohibition of Manufacturing, Importation, Use, and Sale of SingleUse Plastics (SUP Bill), developed by ALN Kenya in collaboration with The FlipFlopi Project. The EAC SUP Bill represents a critical step towards ensuring East Africa remains at the forefront of championing environmental protection, while maintaining competitiveness in global markets by aligning with emerging international frameworks such as the PPWR.
This article assesses why the EU’s PPWR offers a compelling blueprint for EAC and highlights how the EAC SUP Bill, despite different contextual challenges, is moving in step with the highest international standards.
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