Control of banned single use plastic bags in Migori county has been hampered by contrabands from neighbouring Tanzania, stakeholders have said.
Migori county director of National Environment Management Authority Tom Togo said while major steps have been taken to control single use plastic since 2017, challenges in the county still persist.
“We have completely managed to control singe use carry bags in the county, but the smaller plastics used to sell vegetable and milk are still a nuisance,” Togo said.
He said the smaller bags are still a major nuisance in the county and the problem is they are smuggled from neighbouring countries like Tanzania where the ban is not effective.
“In Migori the small flat bags are still a nuisance they come from neighbouring countries despite continuous enforcement and court cases,” Togo said.
He called on residents to help in fighting the vice by refusing to have small single use carrier bag in their shopping.
Already, environment stakeholders are counting on the gazettement of names of county environment committee which will manage all 40 wards and a legal framework for it.
Migori county Environment executive Rahab Robi said in coming weeks, the committee will be made legal and a law passed in the assembly for its operation.
The two said the committee will be key in ensuring single use plastic bags are controlled through giving market attendants and officials a chance to help in controlling the menace.
“We will need a multiagency approach so that the control can be done by both National and County government officials in addition to security operation, this means a market attendant can legally control their use,” Togo said.
Robi said the committee will help in enforcing environment laws and policies not only in urban areas but even in rural areas as sub-committees will be there in all wards.
-Edited by SKanyara