Greenwashing to get funds? No! Just green it.

The Finance Bill 2023 currently at the committee stage continues to elicit a myriad of reactions, both in support and against some of its proposals. The bill, was committed to the second reading stage in Parliament, a day after marking of the world environment day whose theme for 2023 is beating plastic pollution. As supporters and sponsors of the bill urge the general public not to throw out the baby with the bath water, I decided to do exactly that with the bill and consider its proposals, if any, that touch on plastic management. The Finance Bill 2023 has a proposal to remove the locally manufactured plastics from the list of goods subjected to excise duty. This will remove excise duty from locally manufactured plastics and impose the same on imported articles of plastic. Since the year 2013, Kenya’s imports of plastics and articles stood at USD 982.26 Million in 2021, the highest since 2013. Looking at this data against the need to beat plastic pollution, the proposal, if it passes, will encourage the adoption of environmentally friendly packaging. Secondly, the funds from the levy, if put to good use could finance waste management programs. Arguments against this proposal are based on the reasoning that the proposal will encourage the manufacture of plastic locally, exacerbating the issue of plastic pollution. Plastic in itself is not a problem, lack of management of the life cycle of plastic is what leads to plastic pollution. Owing to their strong, non-degradable and versatile properties, items of plastic can be found bot in the domestic and industrial fronts. Their non-biodegradable property is what is of concern given the pollution and damage that plastics cause to our environment. Plastic waste, in the recent past was not classified as hazardous thus escaping the stringent regulations of solid waste management. This only changed when research showed the severe effects of pollution to communities living in close proximity to plastic production and waste sites. Plastic waste portends both a challenge to the health and livelihoods of those who depend on marine resources for work and food. As other countries struggle with where to start with the campaign to beat plastic pollution, Kenya has distinguished itself as a leader in the fight against plastic pollution. By imposing a ban on single-use plastics to signing of the Clean Seas initiative to rid waterways of plastic waste, we have shown goodwill in this fight. In the year 2022, the Kenyan Parliament went a step further and passed the Sustainable Waste Management Act, 2022. This piece of legislation gives the much-needed legal impetus in solid waste management by creating the necessary administrative and budgetary responses. The objectives of the Act are to promote sustainable waste management as well as promote circular economy practices for green growth. It also aims at creating an enabling environment for employment in the green economy in waste management, recycling and recovery among others.