Thursday October 10, 2024
Somalia’s ban on plastic bags targets a $50 million industry, part of a wider effort to stem the environmental toll of unchecked pollution.
FILE - Workers offload waste at a dumping site near Mogadishu, Somalia, as plastic bags and other refuse accumulate
Mogadishu (HOL) — Somalia has implemented an overdue ban on single-use plastic bags to reduce pollution and align the country with regional and global environmental efforts.
"From now on, plastic bags are banned. Anyone found using or selling them will face strict legal action," said Police Spokesman Abdifitah Adan Hassan.
The ban, announced in February 2024, prohibits the importation, production, sale, and use of plastic bags. Although specific penalties have not yet been outlined, the government said police and civil courts will carry out enforcement.
For Somalia, the stakes are high. Its cities are dotted with discarded plastic bags. Economists estimate that the plastic bag industry is worth more than $50 million annually. As the ban takes effect, many local businesses are struggling to find affordable, environmentally friendly alternatives. Shopkeepers like Lul Mohamed, who runs a small store in Mogadishu, are concerned about the impact on their livelihoods. "We support the ban, but we need time and options to replace these bags," she said.
The Somali government provided a five-month grace period in response to complaints, giving businesses time to adapt and explore alternatives. However, experts argue that the lack of affordable substitutes, coupled with high electricity costs, is hindering efforts to transition away from plastic. Abdi Hirsi Ali, founder of Africansolution, a Mogadishu-based company that produces eco-friendly materials, told the BBC that the government must invest in cheaper electricity and provide support for local production if alternatives are to take hold.
Before plastic bags became widely used, Somalis primarily relied on woven baskets and mats for carrying goods. However, as shopping habits changed and plastic became cheaper and more accessible, the use of traditional materials declined. Stores further encouraged the shift by offering free plastic bags to customers.
In countries like the United Kingdom, plastic bags were once handed out for free, but now shoppers are charged a small fee to encourage reuse and reduce waste. This approach has helped lower plastic consumption in many parts of the world.
An environmentally friendly reusable woven basket, commonly used in Somalia before the widespread adoption of plastic bags, symbolizes a return to traditional, sustainable practices as the country moves to ban single-use plastics.
While the ban has received widespread support, some residents of Mogadishu are concerned about the lack of alternatives. Mohamed Nur Hussein welcomed the ban, emphasizing the damage plastic bags have caused to both livestock and urban areas. "Banning them across the entire country would be a huge benefit," he said.
The Somali government's decision comes as part of a global strategy to combat the detrimental effects of plastic waste on the environment, livestock, and public health. Negotiators are meeting regularly to develop a treaty on plastic pollution. The UN plans to finalize an agreement in South Korea by December 2024. Countries worldwide, including Rwanda, Kenya, and India, have already implemented similar bans. Rwanda was one of the first nations to introduce a countrywide ban on plastic bags in 2008, transforming Kigali into one of Africa's cleanest cities. Kenya followed suit in 2017, introducing some of the world's strictest penalties for plastic use, with offenders facing hefty fines or even imprisonment. The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) estimates that 19 to 23 million tonnes of plastic waste leak into water ecosystems annually, equivalent to 2,000 garbage trucks dumping waste into the seas, rivers, and lakes each day.
As a new member of the East African Community (EAC), Somalia's ban is also a step toward aligning with regional environmental standards. Still, enforcing the law will be a complex task, especially in a country where informal trade is widespread.
The environmental argument for banning plastic bags is clear, but health risks are equally significant. A report from the Geneva Environmental Network highlights the toxic chemicals found in plastics, which can cause cancer, disrupt hormone function, and impair reproduction and cognitive abilities.