The National Environment Management Authority (Nema) has issued a ban on non-woven polypropylene shopping bags in Kenya.

In a notice, the environment agency says the ban takes effect on March 31st, 2019.

“This single-usage of these bags will eventually lead to heavy environmental consequences due to poor disposal practices currently being experienced in the country and coupled with lack of requisite infrastructure to sustainably manage these bags," Nema says.

The ban on non-woven polypropylene bags comes barely two years after Nema banned the use, supply, importation, and manufacture of plastic carrier bags.

Nema says the high demand for non-woven polypropylene bags since the ban on plastic bags in 2017 has forced manufacturers to produce low gauge and poor quality alternatives.

“All the manufacturers, suppliers and users of this non-woven polypropylene should stop the manufacture, supply and use of these bags until the Kenya Bureau of Standards (KeBs) that will inform the quality of the non- woven bags needed in the Kenyan market,” Nema further directs.

Non-woven polypropylene bags are made from recyclable material and are a cost-effective option to polythene bags.