• Next Tanzania, Let’s Be Responsible Now

Dodoma – The government has issued a stern warning to dumb factories and companies that continue to produce banned plastic bag products and introduce them into use in unacceptable ways and ordered the relevant authorities to conduct surprise inspections in areas suspected of carrying out such production and in markets to identify them and take strict action against all those involved.

 The Minister of State in the Vice President’s Office (Union and Environment), Hon. Engineer Hamad Yussuf Masauni has explained the action in Dodoma while issuing a government statement ahead of the anniversary.

The action comes due to the emergence of the challenge of the use of plastic packaging, such as tubings used as carriers and packaging that are not qualified and do not meet the requirements set by the Tanzania Bureau of Standards (TBS).

 Following the action, Engineer Masauni has directed the National Environmental Conservation and Management Council (NEMC), local government authorities and other public authorities to continue monitoring and identifying all parties who violate the law and produce plastic products that are banned from being produced and used in the country.

 “Let me remind my fellow Tanzanians to heed the government’s instructions to abandon plastic bags and use alternative bags that are currently available across the country at affordable prices,” emphasised Engineer Masauni.

 In addition, he said that despite the challenge, Tanzania has made significant progress in controlling plastic waste after banning the production, import, distribution and use of plastic bags from June, 2019, a move that helped reduce environmental pollution.

 To ensure that citizens gain understanding about identifying permitted plastic bags and packaging, Hon. Masauni said that the government has continued to provide public education in parallel with the participation of the private sector in the production of alternative bags that are environmentally friendly.

 Explaining the celebrations, Minister Masauni said that they will be marked by an exhibition of stakeholders on products, services and innovations on environmental conservation starting from June 1 to 5, 2025 in Dodoma.

Hon. Engineer Masauni has explained that Environment Day will be accompanied by a Youth Conference that will bring together various young people, including college students, entrepreneurs and environmental ambassadors to be held in Dar es Salaam on June 3, 2025.

According to Eng. Msauni , the theme of this year’s celebration is ‘Next Tanzania, Let’s Be Responsible Now, Control Plastic Use’ which aims to remind the community that the environment and its resources are the basis of life and livelihood as well as economic growth, so the care and conservation of the environment and its resources is important.