The Dark Side of Plastic Bag Bans: Smugglers, Dumps, and Dying Goats

Kenya's ban on single-use plastic bags, implemented in 2017, is failing as the bags continue to pile up in dumps and litter the landscape. The bags are being smuggled into the country from neighboring countries like Ethiopia and Uganda, where the ban is not in place. The bags pose a threat to the environment, clogging drainage systems, releasing toxins when burned, and ending up in rivers and streams. They also pose a danger to livestock, with animals ingesting the bags and suffering from digestive blockage and even death. Despite stiff penalties for violators, enforcement of the ban has been lax, and the bags are still widely used and available in local markets.