Ethiopia enforces ban on single-use plastic bags

Ethiopia on Saturday began enforcing a nationwide ban on single-use plastic bags, marking a major step in the government's effort to curb pollution and reduce the country's mounting plastic waste.

"Starting from today, the production, sale, and use of single-use plastic bags are strictly prohibited," said Lelise Neme, director-general of the Ethiopian Environmental Protection Authority.

The ban follows the full entry into force of the solid waste management and disposal proclamation, approved by parliament in June last year, after a six-month grace period intended to allow businesses and consumers to adjust.

Neme said single-use plastics pose serious risks to public health and the environment, warning that they contaminate soil and water and expose children to long-term harm. 

"The harm they cause today will shape the future we leave behind. Let us act now - reject single-use plastics, take responsibility, and protect our planet for present and future generations," she said.

In the months leading up to the ban, authorities rolled out a nationwide public awareness campaign to explain the new law and highlight the environmental costs of plastic waste. According to data from EPA, plastic bags account for 46 percent of all plastic waste generated by the public in Ethiopia.

Under the law, individuals caught using or distributing single-use plastic bags face fines of up to about $32. Manufacturers, importers and retailers are subject to significantly heavier penalties.

The move has drawn mixed reactions from the public. While many Ethiopians have welcomed the ban as a long-overdue measure to protect the environment, others have raised concerns about enforcement in a country where affordable alternatives, such as paper or reusable bags, remain scarce and unevenly available.

Edited by CGTN Africa reporter Marion Gachuhi