Ethiopia enforces ban on single-use plastic bags to curb environmental pollution

ETHIOPIA – Ethiopia’s House of Peoples’ Representatives (HoPR) has passed a landmark bill banning the use, manufacture, and distribution of single-use plastic bags across the country.

The new legislation is part of the government’s broader strategy to safeguard the environment and promote sustainable waste management practices.

Minister of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change, Gemedo Dalle, described the bill as “a necessary and long-overdue step” in Ethiopia’s environmental protection agenda.

Speaking at a press briefing following the vote, Dalle highlighted the alarming impact of plastic pollution, stating, “Plastic is choking our rivers, poisoning livestock, and polluting our farmlands. Ethiopia must act now before the situation becomes unmanageable.”

Under the new law, individuals caught using or distributing single-use plastic bags will face fines of up to 5,000 Ethiopian birr (approximately US$38.70).

Even stricter penalties, including license suspensions, will apply to manufacturers, importers, and marketers who violate the ban.

According to data from the Ethiopian Environmental Protection Authority (EEPA), single-use plastic bags account for nearly 46% of all plastic waste generated in the country.

This staggering figure underscores the urgency of the new policy. The bags, often discarded after just one use, contribute heavily to clogged drainage systems, urban flooding, soil degradation, and harm to both livestock and wildlife that ingest them.

To support implementation, the government is launching a nationwide awareness campaign to educate citizens, retailers, and manufacturers about the implications of the law.

The campaign aims to promote alternatives such as cloth, paper, and biodegradable bags, and to encourage behavioral change through community engagement and school-based programs.

Environmental experts and local NGOs have welcomed the move, noting that Ethiopia joins a growing list of African nations, such as Kenya, Rwanda, and Tanzania, that have adopted strict anti-plastic policies.

They emphasize that while enforcement will pose challenges, the ban is a vital step toward fostering a cleaner, greener Ethiopia.

As the country balances development with sustainability, the new law signals a shift in national priorities, placing environmental health at the heart of public policy and opening opportunities for innovation in eco-friendly packaging and recycling industries.

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