2.2 Current policies to reduce single-use plastics in Africa:
A number of African countries have taken steps to address the issue of
SUP through legislative bans, particularly focused on SUP bags. Rwanda
was an early adopter of such a law in 2008, which prohibited the
production, use, import, and sale of non-biodegradable plastic bags
[18]. Kenya followed suit with a similar ban in 2018, which imposed
fines and jail time for violators [19]. Nigeria also implemented a
plastic bag ban in 2019, with comparable restrictions [20]. In
total, 34 out of 54 African countries have introduced policies aimed at
reducing SUP, including bans on plastic bags [21]. Alongside the
plastic bag bans, some African countries have also introduced extended
producer responsibility (EPR) policies, which hold manufacturers
accountable for the environmental impacts of their products [20].
For certain products, South Africa and Kenya have introduced EPR
policies that can incentivize manufacturers to reduce their use of SUP
[22].