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Ethiopia Enforces Nationwide Ban on Single-Use Plastic Bags
(MENAFN) Ethiopia has implemented a nationwide prohibition on single-use plastic bags effective Saturday, marking a significant environmental policy shift in the East African nation.
Lelise Neme, director-general of the Ethiopian Environmental Protection Authority (EPA), declared the measure's commencement on Saturday, stating: "Starting from today, the production, sale, and use of single-use plastic bags are strictly prohibited."
The legislation stems from a solid waste management framework ratified by the Ethiopian House of Peoples' Representatives—the nation's lower parliamentary chamber—in June of the previous year. Implementation followed a six-month transition window designed to allow businesses and consumers time to adapt.
Neme emphasized the environmental and public health urgency driving the policy, noting that disposable plastics pose serious risks to human wellbeing, particularly for children, while causing substantial degradation to agricultural land and aquatic ecosystems.
"The harm they cause today will shape the future we leave behind. Let us act now - reject single-use plastics, take responsibility, and protect our planet for present and future generations," she said.
Prior to enforcement, authorities launched an extensive national education initiative to inform citizens about regulatory requirements and the ecological consequences of plastic consumption.
The law establishes financial penalties for violations: individuals caught using or distributing prohibited bags face fines reaching 5,000 Ethiopian birr (approximately 32 U.S. dollars). Producers, importers, and commercial distributors may incur substantially higher sanctions.
EPA statistics reveal that single-use plastic bags account for 46 percent of all plastic refuse produced by the public across the nation.
Public reaction has been mixed. While numerous residents applaud governmental environmental stewardship, many voice apprehension about enforcement in a market where substitute options such as paper bags remain scarce, potentially disrupting routine activities.
Lelise Neme, director-general of the Ethiopian Environmental Protection Authority (EPA), declared the measure's commencement on Saturday, stating: "Starting from today, the production, sale, and use of single-use plastic bags are strictly prohibited."
The legislation stems from a solid waste management framework ratified by the Ethiopian House of Peoples' Representatives—the nation's lower parliamentary chamber—in June of the previous year. Implementation followed a six-month transition window designed to allow businesses and consumers time to adapt.
Neme emphasized the environmental and public health urgency driving the policy, noting that disposable plastics pose serious risks to human wellbeing, particularly for children, while causing substantial degradation to agricultural land and aquatic ecosystems.
"The harm they cause today will shape the future we leave behind. Let us act now - reject single-use plastics, take responsibility, and protect our planet for present and future generations," she said.
Prior to enforcement, authorities launched an extensive national education initiative to inform citizens about regulatory requirements and the ecological consequences of plastic consumption.
The law establishes financial penalties for violations: individuals caught using or distributing prohibited bags face fines reaching 5,000 Ethiopian birr (approximately 32 U.S. dollars). Producers, importers, and commercial distributors may incur substantially higher sanctions.
EPA statistics reveal that single-use plastic bags account for 46 percent of all plastic refuse produced by the public across the nation.
Public reaction has been mixed. While numerous residents applaud governmental environmental stewardship, many voice apprehension about enforcement in a market where substitute options such as paper bags remain scarce, potentially disrupting routine activities.
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