The Addis Ababa Environmental Protection Authority announced that it was providing support to plastic manufacturers as they transition to producing alternative products in place of banned single-use plastic bags.

According to the Authority, manufacturers that previously focused on single-use plastic items are encouraged to shift to more sustainable alternatives, and doing so will help them avoid economic losses. Officials emphasized that the recent Solid Waste Management and Disposal Proclamation, approved by the House of Peoples' Representatives, does not call for the closure of plastic factories or a complete ban on all plastic products. The new legislation solely targets the prohibition of single-use plastic bags.

This clarification follows recent comments from the Ethiopian Plastic and Rubber Manufacturers Association, which claimed that there are no single-use plastic bags currently in production, a position that contrasts with the stance taken by the Environmental Protection Authority.

Ato Dida Diriba, General Manager of the Addis Ababa City Environmental Protection Authority, stated that the agency was prepared to implement the new proclamation once the relevant provisions come under its jurisdiction.

He also noted that while the Authority had been actively working to reduce pollution in Addis Ababa and surrounding areas, long-standing and high levels of pollution had made it difficult to achieve the desired environmental improvements. The Authority affirmed its ongoing commitment to implementing policies that support cleaner urban living and a transition to sustainable manufacturing practices as it moves forward into the 2025/26 fiscal year.

Source: Sheger FM 102.1