2.2 Current policies to reduce single-use plastics in Africa:
A number of African countries have taken steps to address the issue of SUP through legislative bans, particularly focused on SUP bags. Rwanda was an early adopter of such a law in 2008, which prohibited the production, use, import, and sale of non-biodegradable plastic bags [18]. Kenya followed suit with a similar ban in 2018, which imposed fines and jail time for violators [19]. Nigeria also implemented a plastic bag ban in 2019, with comparable restrictions [20]. In total, 34 out of 54 African countries have introduced policies aimed at reducing SUP, including bans on plastic bags [21]. Alongside the plastic bag bans, some African countries have also introduced extended producer responsibility (EPR) policies, which hold manufacturers accountable for the environmental impacts of their products [20]. For certain products, South Africa and Kenya have introduced EPR policies that can incentivize manufacturers to reduce their use of SUP [22].