Tanzania cautions businesses to diversify ahead of total plastic ban in January 2017

The government of Tanzania has warned manufacturers of plastic bags to diversify their line of business with barely four months to the full implementation of a plastics ban.

The Citizen news portal reports that the government has through a series of advertisement on Thursday (August 18) advised manufacturing factories to ease production before the January 2017 deadline.

The advertisement also encouraged them to invest in production of alternative bags and plastic waste recycling facilities.

In April this year, a minister of union affairs and environment, January Makamba, informed the National Assembly that the government was going ahead with its total ban on plastic bags.

‘‘We are warning industries that stern action, including closure will be taken against those who will be caught manufacturing plastic bags,’‘ he said.