Rwanda adopts draft law to ban single-use plastics
Rwanda’s Cabinet last week adopted a draft law seeking to prohibit the manufacture, use and sale of single-use plastics, a move that is expected to affect the operations of importers and local manufacturers.
The passage of the draft came ahead of the February 1 EAC Summit, in which the region’s heads of state were expected to assent to the EAC Polythene Materials Control Bill, 2018, which would see the region adopt a common framework on the elimination of the use of plastics. The law seeks a ban on plastic water bottles, disposables straws, plates, spoons, tumblers and other products. Once passed by the legislature, it will complement another law that has existed since 2008 illegalising the use of non-biodegradable polythene bags.