Kenya’s decision to ban single use plastic products in all protected areas — beaches, national parks, conservation areas and forests — took effect June 5.

Kenya’s August 2017 ban on the production, sale and use of plastics carrier bags was considered one of strictest in the world.

SIB-Kenya, which is hosted by the Kenya Private Sector Alliance (Kepsa), observes that plastic production is expected to double over the next 20 years, most of which will be single use packaging material.

The single use plastics ban includes cutlery, straws, balloons, PET-bottles, cigarette butts, sweet wrappers and other products containing polymers that are harmful to the environment when not disposed of in a proper way.

“Plastic production has surged over the past decades, from 15 million tonnes in 1964 to 349 tonnes in 2018 and is expected to double over the next 20 years, with most of it being single use packaging material.