Assessing the impact of banning the single use plastic carrier bags: A case study for Kenyan marine environment

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Abstract Poor waste management and unsustainable collective and individual behaviors, have led to the accumulation of plastic litter in many habitats worldwide. Assessment of plastic pollution in Kenyan marine environment was conducted focusing on the impact of banning the single use plastic bags in Kenya. The quantification, composition and distribution of plastics were determined at eleven (11) beaches along Kenyan coastline. A total of 750 plastics were determined with only 53 pieces being single use plastic bags. A great number of plastics (n = 383), including the single use carrier bags were identified by their original use, with packaging plastics being the most common (n = 221). Macroplastics were dominant at 67%, mesoplastics (21%) and microplastics (12%). Low density polyethylene (LDPE) was the dominant polymer (44%), followed by polypropylene (PP), 34%, polystyrene (PS) and polyethylene tetraphthalate (PET), 8% each and polyvinyl chloride (PVC), 6%. The absence of single use plastic bags in various beaches signified the effectiveness of the ban in Kenya. Monitoring of trends and sources of plastic debris is encouraged to help enhance the science-policy linkage aimed at reducing marine plastic pollution.

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