Non-biodegradable bags have been banned in Burundi by a presidential decree since 2018. Despite the delay in implementing this law, the situation on the market is no longer alarming. The Minister of the Environment calls traders involved in the trade of these products to order

In order to preserve public health and protect the environment, the Government of Burundi has put in place Decree No. 100/009 prohibiting the import, manufacture, marketing and use of plastic bags and other plastic packaging. The said decree was signed by the President of the Republic of Burundi on 8 August 2018. Anxious to facilitate the implementation of this decree, the traders and businesses concerned were granted a grace period of up to 18 months. According to the Ministry in charge of the environment, this period was granted in order to allow traders to sell off available stocks. Despite the large-scale popularization undertaken by the Ministry of the Environment through meetings and workshops, the grace period was not respected.

Two years after the decree was issued, non-biodegradable plastic bags remain present on the Burundian market and their prices have soared. In various markets in Bujumbura, the economic capital of the country, non-biodegradable bags are still sold despite being banned by the public authorities. According to a trader at the “Cotebu” market who requested anonymity, sufficient production of biodegradable bags is needed in Burundi to be able to easily obtain them on the local market.

The authorities make a positive assessment

The Minister of Environment, Agriculture and Livestock held a press briefing to assess the implementation of Decree No. 100/099 prohibiting the import, manufacture and marketing of plastic bags and other plastic packaging on 25 August 2020, during which he unveiled the current situation with regard to the import of plastic products. According to Minister Rurema, the data show a very significant decrease in imports of bags, bags and plastic raw materials. Even if retailers withdrew in the first 11 months of implementing the decree, the figures recorded in the period from July 2019 to July 2020 show a very promising situation.

Comparing the figures for the period from August 2017 to July 2018 and from August 2018 to July 2019, we found that imports of plastic bags and bags increased from 1,356,028 kg to 179,967,500 kg. During these same periods, imports of plastic raw materials increased from 944.213 kg to 2. 443.891 kg while those of plastic bottles increased from 1.328.497 to 1.644.057 kg.

However, comparing the results obtained 11 months from the implementation of the decree to those recorded between July 2019 and the present day, we note a sharp decrease in exports. According to the document from the Ministry of the Environment, imports of plastic bags and bags fell from 179,967,500 kg to 82,282 kg. As for imports of plastic raw materials, there was a decrease from 2,443,891 kg to 884,484 kg while imports of plastic bottles started from 1,644,057 kg to fall back to 628.884 kg.

Some local companies are already involved in the manufacture of substitute products. These include the PACOBU, APBEE or BUJUMBURA-POLYTHENE factories. “We welcome the large number of substitutes on the market”, said Minister Rurema before encouraging local companies that are working to make substitutes available on the local market.

However, the minister deplores the existence of banned plastic bags and bags on the local market when the grace period provided for by the decree has already expired. This authority did not fail to warn traders who engage in bag fraud and promised support to those who will develop projects that focus on the substitution of plastic products.