The National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) will close markets where many plastic bags will be nabbed during the ongoing crackdown in the Western Region.
The Western Regional Director of NEMA, Anthony Saisi, said the region is still lagging in complying with alternative packaging materials, especially among small traders.
He also warned manufacturers who supply single plastic bags for collaborating with traders who provide a market for them.
Saisi was speaking during World Environment Day after leading a crackdown where they nabbed 15 bales of plastic bags at Kambi ya Mwanza in Kakamega.
He challenged sub-county and ward administrators to support the management of plastic bags, and he asked stakeholders to work with the authority to control the entry of plastic materials from neighbouring countries.
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On his part, County Chief Officer for Environment, Natural Resources, and Climate Change, Justin Makari Mutobera, said the county government supported the National Government's efforts to move from a linear economy to a circular economy and eliminate single-use plastic.
He said the county government will support NEMA in enforcing the ban on the use of plastic bags while encouraging the recycling of plastic water bottles.
He also asked residents to plant trees to increase forest cover, which will, in turn, mitigate against the effects of climate change.
