Plastic Containers and straws will no longer be allowed in parks and beaches and any other tourist attraction site as Kenya seeks to reduce environmental pollution in its conservational areas.
According to the Ministry of Tourism, tourists will not be allowed to enter the parks with plastic containers, and the hotels and lounges selling food and drinks will also not sell or pack the food in containers made of plastic.
The banned plastic items in this context include; bottles, straws, cutlery, plates, cups, and cotton buds that are made of plastic.
Tourism and Wildlife Cabinet Secretary Najib Balala advises tourists to instead consider using wooden containers, papers, metallic cans and spoons, coconut husks, and bamboo which are environmentally friendly.
“The preservation of our environment is tied to our well-being and the well-being of future generations. This ban is yet another first in addressing the plastic pollution catastrophe facing Kenya and the world, and we hope that it catalyzes similar policies and actions from the East African Community, ”Najib Balala said.
The ban of plastic bags is among the steps Kenya has taken to reduce environmental pollution which poses a real threat to the lives of most living organisms especially those in the soil and water.
United Nations predicts that by 2050, plastic materials will be more than the fish in the ocean calling on Governments to come up with strategies to curb the threat. The plastics then end up in our food chain if they are consumed by animals.
Juliette Biao the UNEP Africa region director commends the efforts the Kenyan Government has taken in fighting environmental pollution.
“By banning single-use plastics in its parks and protected areas, Kenya joins the rest of the world in setting the agenda for the sustainable management of waste in conformity with this year’s World Environment Day theme.”