Tanzania is moving into the second phase of the country’s anti-plastic initiative, which means both locals and tourists will no longer be able to make use of plastic bags. But will banning plastic actually help the country rid itself of plastic waste? To find an answer to this question, all we have to do is look towards Kenya or Uganda, which are just two of 34 African nations who have effectively banned single-use plastics.
Kenya’s ban has led to a “visibly cleaner” country, while Rwanda is on course to become the world’s first plastic-free country. In fact, the UN named the country’s capital, Kigali, the African continent’s cleanest city, thanks in part to a 2008 ban on non-biodegradable plastic. As African nations have shown, taking action on plastic waste can quickly lead to an improved environment. Perhaps it’s time we follow their lead and single-use plastics for good in America.
