Monthly Archives: May 2019

Arusha / Dar. Three weeks before the plastic ban went into effect, a college in Arusha began training entrepreneurs in simple technologies for making paper bags.
The training, which attracted the first group of more than 30 small entrepreneurs, began on Saturday at the newly established Tanganyika Polytechnic College.
“The course was introduced in anticipation of the growing demand for paper bags following the plastic ban,” said college principal Dr Richard Masika.
Meanwhile, the National Environmental Management Council (Nemc) announced yesterday in Dar es Salaam that during the interim period, district officials will demarcate the dumping areas, warning that violators of the ban risk a fine of up to 20 million shillings.
“Regulations made under the Environmental Law of 2004 fined an importer and exporter of condemned banned bags in the amount of 20 million shillings, while the production, storage and distribution of the bags will result in a fine of 10 million shillings and the sale of the bags will cost the seller 10 million shillings. .000 fine while a person caught using the bags will be fined 30,000 shillings, ”Nemc General Manager Dr Samuel Gwamaka said yesterday in Dar es Salaam.
He said that the production of alternative bags is progressing well. “At present, we have 25 local industries producing paper bags and other industries producing other kinds of alternative bags. The production of such bags is expected to increase in the near future, ”he said.
In Arusha, training at Tanganyika Polytechnic College was initiated with the aim of getting rid of plastics as well, he added, noting; “It is also an opportunity for small entrepreneurs to earn money with paper bags.
The trained people will make the paper bags, which will be sold to different customers.
The government recently announced that from June 1, 2019, the use of most plastic containers would be banned due to their effects on health and the environment.
Tanzania would join 60 other countries around the world, including neighboring Kenya and Rwanda, in enforcing the plastics ban.
The course would also expose entrepreneurs to simple technologies for making bags from papers and other environmentally friendly materials such as cotton, sisal, banana leaves and leather.
Paper bags are those used in bakeries and shops, egg trays and decorations, among other household and commercial uses, explained Dr Masika.
Available statistics indicate that plastic waste constitutes a significant mass of 550 tons of solid waste generated daily in the city of Arusha.
Efforts have been made to recycle some of the discarded plastics and other polyethylene materials, but most of them are still piling up in some suburbs of the country’s safari capital.
However, there are no figures on the plastic waste generated in Arusha.
But until a few years ago, a local business collected at least 2.5 tonnes of used plastics per day, including water / liquid bottles and discarded nylon bags.
Most of the collection was shredded and transported to large recycling companies in Dar es Salaam and Kenya to make other products