Tanzania’s government has put out an official notice to inform travellers to the country that from 1 June 2019 ‘all plastic carrier bags, regardless of thickness, will be prohibited from being imported, exported, manufactured, sold, stored, supplied, and used in mainland Tanzania.’
Visitors are warned not to enter the country with plastic carrier bags and that there will be specially-designated desks at all entry points for the ‘surrender of plastic carrier bags’ that visitors may bring into Tanzania.
However, Ziploc bags specifically used to carry toiletries will be permitted as they are expected to remain in the permanent possession of visitors, and are not expected to be disposed of in the country.
Exclusions have also been made for plastic packaging for medical services, industrial products, construction industry, agricultural sector, foodstuffs, sanitary and waste management.
The ban is not intended to make visitors’ stay in Tanzania unpleasant as it is enforced, but the government says it expects that visitors will understand its responsibility to protect the environment and keep the country beautiful and clean.
Official government notice to travelers planning to visit Tanzania in the wake of plastic bags ban. pic.twitter.com/uyOcJ3b7W4
— January Makamba (@JMakamba) May 15, 2019
Featured image: Pixaby