Nairobi, Kenya – as the third session of the Inter-governmental Negotiations Committee (INC-3) on ending plastic pollution convenes at the United Nations Headquarters in Gigiri, key stakeholders in the circular economy are urging African governments to implement bans on unnecessary plastic items. These items include straws, plates, cups, and other plastics deemed non-essential.
According to Africa Science News, Economic Affairs Officer at the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), the use of unnecessary plastics, while beneficial for downstream business and recycling, could be replaced by more durable, natural materials. Pacini suggests that materials like cultural residues, base materials, and seaweed-based products could play a significant role in supplanting plastics.
The call for action was made during a circular economy workshop in Nairobi, attended by journalists and communicators from seven African countries: Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda, Nigeria, Ethiopia, and Ghana. The event was sponsored by several organizations, including Africa 21, Anjarwalla and Khanna (ALN) Kenya, Kenya Private Sector Alliance (KEPSA), UN-Habitat, African Circular Economy Network (ACEN), and The FlipFlop Project.
Kenya has been proactive in addressing plastic pollution, having banned the importation, production, and use of plastic bags for commercial and household purposes since March 2017, with Gazette Notice 2356. Violators of this ban face fines of up to $40,000 and prison terms of up to four years. Additionally, Kenya has prohibited plastic bottles, straws, and related products in all national parks, national reserves, conservation areas, and other designated wildlife areas.
Pacini highlights the problematic nature of commonly used unnecessary plastics like straws and plates, advocating for sustainable substitutes or non-plastic materials and promoting reusability. He emphasizes the longevity of plastics in nature and the need for urgent action to prevent their accumulation.
The ongoing negotiations for an international treaty against plastic pollution are focusing on control measures, taxation, traceability of plastics, and outright bans of non-essential or problematic single-use plastics. Pacini underscores the necessity for global consensus on handling plastic waste, given its immense trade volume and environmental impact.
Additionally, Pacini urges manufacturers to be mindful of the additives in plastics, such as fire retardants and Ultra Violet protectors, which can introduce harmful organic pollutants.
UNCTAD reports that plastic constitutes an estimated 10–12% of solid waste, amounting to 966,000 tonnes/year. In 2019, the most collected items from beaches included plastic beverage bottles, bottle caps, food wrappers, lids, takeaway containers, and grocery bags.
Piotr Barczak, a member of the Africa Circular Economy Network (AZEN), discusses the challenges faced by developing countries in balancing production and consumption. He notes that African countries have a much lower per capita footprint, which is linked to material consumption and quality of life. Barczak also points out that inadequate policies in Africa hinder progress towards Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 12, which focuses on sustainable consumption and production. He asserts that current trends are not aligned with achieving the SDG goals by 2030.
Barczak concludes by emphasizing the importance of waste reduction at the household level, advocating for the use of reusable containers and repurposing waste.