Policy case

Impact on the availability of resources as well as their effect on living organisms, ecosystems, and components of the environment.

Ecological Impact

Impacts on the social fabric of the community and well-being of the individuals and families.

Social Impact

Impact on increased knowledge and understanding as a result of the case study

Increase Awareness

Minimise waste through diversion: Instead of sending waste to landfill, it is redirected into other industrial processes for handling, treatment, recycling, recovery, or reuse in various forms. 

Minimise waste through design: At the outset of a process of project, plan and design such that there is zero waste or minimal waste during production, use, and at end of life. 

Minimise Waste (SDG12)

Societal Services

Providing public and private education and support services at any level or for any profession, and governmental and public administration services, including judicial, regulatory, and legislative activities, taxation, defence, public order and safety, immigration services, foreign affairs and the administration of government programmes

Education and Government Services

Collecting waste from households and businesses by means of refuse bins, wheeled bins, containers, etc., and providing treatment, incineration, materials recovery and reclamation, and disposal of hazardous and non-hazardous waste

Waste Management

Engage with the government on circular policies and programmes

Government collaboration

Engaging in discussions with government bodies and policymakers to push for regulations that support the circular economy

Advocacy for circular economy policy

'Regulate' changes the rules of the systems to achieve compliance through enforcement. 


Regulate

 Regulation

Monitoring & enforcement

Bans

Raise awareness and run information campaigns about  strategies for and impacts of the circular economy in different contexts.

Communication and awareness

Impacts

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Industries

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A framework of policy instruments that enabled and encourage the transition to the circular economy

Policies

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A framework of policy instruments that enable and stimulate the transition to the circular economy

The principles of a circular economy concern designing out waste, regenerating ecosystems and keeping items in use. Decoupling the economy from material flows—improving the rate of resource productivity faster than the economic growth rate—is also a consistent guide. By evolving with the growing number of applications of circular economy principles, and consolidating these strategies across thematic areas, Circle Economy’s Key Elements Framework (KE) renders the elements of the circular economy salient and serves as a basis to derive contextual strategies and interventions. 


The Framework consists of:
- Core Elements: Activities directly handling product or material flows; and uniquely,
- Enabling Elements: those that remove obstacles for core actors.


Key elements of the circular economy

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Circle Economy's framework of strategies and activities that define the circular economy

 La prolifération incontrôlée des sachets plastiques est à l’origine de nombreux problèmes d’environnement mais également de cadre de vie et de santé. Sur le plan écologique, outre la pollution visuelle du sol, l’encombrement des caniveaux et des égouts, les sachets plastiques, dont le temps de présence dans la nature est de plusieurs siècles, sont à l’origine, en milieu rural notamment, de la dégradation des terres de culture, de la diminution des espaces agricoles et du coefficient d’infiltration du sol ainsi que de la baisse du rendement agricole. S’agissant des végétaux, les sachets plastiques peuvent inhiber la photosynthèse et la germination des graines, impactant ainsi de manière négative la régénération des peuplements. L’action néfaste des sachets plastiques se manifeste également à l’égard des animaux, en particulier le cheptel et les mammifères marins, qui meurent étouffés en essayant de les ingurgiter. Sur le plan sanitaire, le brulage des sachets plastiques entraine la production de polluants organiques persistants (dioxines et furane) qui provoquent l’irritation des yeux, des maladies cardiovasculaires et respiratoires et le cancer. De plus, les sachets plastiques servent de poche de prolifération des vecteurs des maladies, les moustiques en particulier. Pour lutter contre ces effets néfastes, le présent projet de loi propose la normalisation et la standardisation de la production et de l’importation des sachets plastiques pour ne permettre la mise sur le marché que des sachets de qualité supérieure, résistants et réutilisables. Cette solution allie souplesse et efficacité. Les sachets plastiques visés par l’interdiction étant pour l’essentiel importés, le risque de ralentissement ou d’arrêt des activités des industriels du plastique est écarté. Par ailleurs, elle permet d’assurer un plus haut niveau de protection de l’environnement. Outre l’interdiction des sachets plastiques de faible micronnage, le présent projet de loi prévoit des mesures destinées à promouvoir la gestion écologiquement rationnelle des déchets plastiques solides et flexibles qui, de plus en plus, sont valorisés. Le présent projet de loi comporte 17 articles. L’article premier est consacré à la définition des termes. Les articles 2 et 3 posent le principe de l’interdiction des sachets plastiques de faible micronnage et celui de la fin de la gratuité pour les sachets plastiques d’une épaisseur supérieure ou égale à 30 microns. Les articles 4 à 7 visent à standardiser la production des sachets plastiques et à promouvoir la gestion écologiquement rationnelle des déchets plastiques. Les articles 8 à 16 prévoient les infractions et les sanctions ainsi que le principe de la responsabilité pénale des personnes morales. L’article 17 institue un délai devant permettre aux acteurs du secteur de la plasturgie de s’ajuster à la nouvelle situation.  Tel est l’objet du présent projet de loi. L’Assemblée nationale a adopté, en sa séance du mardi 21 avril 2015 ;  Le Président de la République promulgue la loi dont la teneur suit : Article premier. - Au sens de la présente loi, on entend par :- déchet : toute substance ou tout déchet dont le détenteur se défait ou dont il a l’intention de se défaire ou l’obligation de se défaire en vertu des lois et règlements en vigueur ; - déchet plastique : tout déchet constitué de matière plastique, qu’il s’agisse de thermoplastique, de thermodurcissable ou de matière plastique composite ; - industriel du plastique : tout propriétaire ou tout gérant d’une unité de production ou de fabrication de produits plastiques selon des procédés industriels ; - écotoxicité : étude du comportement et des effets des agents contenus dans les sachets plastiques sur les écosystèmes afin de déterminer les seuils relatifs au-delà desquels ils ont des effets toxiques ou en deçà desquels ils sont inoffensifs ; - gestion rationnelle des déchets plastiques : toute mesure permettant d’assurer que les déchets plastiques sont gérés d’une manière qui garantisse la protection de l’environnement et de la santé humaine et animale contre les effets nuisibles que peuvent avoir ces déchets ; - opérateur du secteur du plastique : toute personne, physique ou morale ayant pour activité la production ou la fabrication ou l’importation de produits ou matières plastiques ou le recyclage ou la valorisation de déchets plastiques ; - recyclage : la réintroduction directe d’un déchet dans le cycle de production dont il est issu, en remplacement total ou partiel d’une matière première neuve ; - sachet plastique : contenant plastique ayant, dans sa partie supérieure, une découpe sous forme de bretelle (sachet bretelle) fabriqué à partir d’un film polyéthylène ; - valorisation : le réemploi, le recyclage ou toute autre action visant à obtenir, à partir des déchets, des matériaux réutilisables ou de l’énergie.  Art. 2. - Sont interdites, sur toute l’étendue du territoire national, la production, l’importation, l’utilisation, la détention en vue de la mise en vente et la vente ou la distribution à titre gratuit de sachets plastiques d’une épaisseur inférieure à 30 microns.  Art. 3. - Les sachets plastiques d’une épaisseur supérieure ou égale à 30 microns, quel que soit l’usage auquel ils sont destinés, ne peuvent être distribués ou proposés gratuitement. Un arrêté conjoint des ministres respectivement en charge du commerce et de l’environnement fixe le prix de leur cession aux utilisateurs.  Art. 4. - Les sachets plastiques d’une épaisseur supérieure ou égale à 30 microns doivent respecter les normes techniques concernant la fabrication, la composition des matériaux, l’étiquetage et l’écotoxicité fixées par un décret pris sur proposition du ministre en charge de l’environnement.  Art. 5. - Les industriels du plastique sont tenus de réduire les quantités de déchets plastiques qui peuvent résulter de leurs activités en développant, le cas échéant, des activités de valorisation des déchets issus de leur processus ou procédés de production.  Art. 6. - Les opérateurs du secteur du plastique sont tenus de proposer aux ménages et autres utilisateurs, un système de collecte ou de reprise des déchets plastiques en vue de leur valorisation, recyclage ou élimination. Le ministre en charge de l’environnement fixe par arrêté, après avis consultatif des ministres respecti-vement en charge du commerce et de l’industrie et en relation avec les opérateurs du secteur du plastique et les collectivités locales concernées, les conditions dans lesquelles doivent être effectuées les opérations de collecte ou de reprise, de stockage, de tri et de transport des déchets plastiques ainsi que de leur valorisation, recyclage ou élimination.  Art. 7. - Les opérateurs du secteur du plastique tiennent un registre dans lequel ils consignent les mesures qu’ils ont l’obligation de prendre en application des articles 5 et 6 de la présente loi. Ce registre est présenté à première demande aux agents de contrôle visés à l’article 9 de la présente loi. Le contrôle effectué dans ce cadre a pour seul but de déterminer la mesure dans laquelle les opérateurs du secteur du plastique s’acquittent de leurs obligations en vertu de la présente loi. Les conditions de tenue du registre et les mentions obligatoires qui doivent y être portées sont déterminées par arrêté du ministre en charge de l’environnement.  Art. 8. – Toute personne qui détient ou utilise des produits en matière plastique est tenue, lorsque ces produits deviennent des déchets, de les déposer ou de les faire acheminer vers les points de collecte ou de reprise aménagés à cet effet.  Art. 9. - Les infractions aux dispositions de la présente loi ou de ses textes d’application sont constatées par les officiers et agents de police judiciaire, et les agents assermentés relevant des Ministères respectivement en charge de l’Environnement, de la santé, de l’Industrie, du Commerce et de l’Economie. La constatation des infractions est consignée dans un procès-verbal dressé conformément aux règles du Code de Procédure pénale. Dans l’exercice de leurs missions, les agents qui n’ont pas la qualité d’officier de police judiciaire, peuvent requérir la force publique lorsque cette réquisition est justifiée.  Art. 10. - La production ou fabrication de sachets plastiques en infraction aux dispositions de l’article 2 de la présente loi est punie d’une amende de 10 000 000 à 20 000 000 francs CFA et d’un emprisonnement de trois (3) mois à six (6) mois ou de l’une de ces deux peines seulement.  Art. 11. - L’importation sur le territoire national de sachets plastiques d’une épaisseur inférieure à 30 microns est une infraction douanière constatée, poursuivie et punie conformément aux dispositions du Code des Douanes.  Art. 12. - L’utilisation, la détention en vue de la mise en vente, la mise en vente et la vente ou la distribution à titre gratuit de sachets plastiques d’une épaisseur inférieure à 30 microns sont punies d’une amende de 20 000 à 50 000 francs CFA. Si l’auteur de l’infraction est un commerçant ou un distributeur, le montant maximal de la peine est prononcé.  Art. 13. - Les opérateurs du secteur du plastique auront omis de tenir un registre ou de le présenter à première demande ou d’y porter les mentions obligatoires sont punis d’une amende de 2 000 000 à 5 000 000 francs CFA et d’un emprisonnement de un (1) jour à un (1) mois ou de l’une de ces deux peines seulement. Au cas où le contrôle du registre fait apparaître une infraction aux dispositions des articles 5 et 6 de la présente loi, son auteur est puni d’une amende de 5 000 000 à 10 000 000 francs CFA et d’un emprisonnement de un (1) mois à trois (3) mois ou de l’une de ces deux peines seulement.  Art. 14. - Est puni d’une amende de 10 000 à 30 000 francs CFA quiconque abandonne ou jette des déchets plastiques ailleurs que dans les points de collecte ou de reprise prévus à cet effet. En cas de récidive, le montant maximal de la peine est prononcé.  Art. 15. - Les personnes morales autres que l’Etat, les collectivités locales et les établissements publics sont pénalement responsables des infractions prévues par la présente loi, commises pour leur compte par leurs organes ou représentants. La responsabilité des personnes morales n’exclut pas celle des personnes physiques, auteurs ou complices des mêmes faits.  Art. 16. - Les peines encourues par les personnes morales sont : - l’amende dont le taux maximum est égal au quintuple de celui prévu pour les personnes physiques par la loi qui réprime l’infraction ; - la fermeture définitive ou pour une durée de cinq (5) ans au plus d’un ou de plusieurs des établissements de l’entreprise ayant servi à commettre les faits incriminés ; - confiscation de la chose qui a servi ou était destinée à commettre l’infraction ou de la chose qui est le produit ; - l’affichage de la décision prononcée ou la diffusion de celle-ci soit par la presse écrite soit par tout moyen de communication au public par voie électronique.  Art. 17. - La présente loi entre en vigueur à la fin du sixième mois à compter de sa publication au Journal officiel.  La présente loi sera exécutée comme loi de l’Etat. Fait à Dakar, le 04 mai 2015 Macky SALL Par le Président de la République : Le Premier Ministre, Mahammed Boun Abdallah DIONNE

The large quantities of plastic bags thrown into the environment and not collected can prevent water from flowing through the pipes and cause dramatic flooding for the environment. The recent torrent of plastic waste that spilled into the port of Durban in South Africa following heavy rains prompts us to question the strategies implemented by African governments to combat plastic pollution. Indeed, plastic pollution is a serious threat to the environment, biodiversity, and has harmful consequences on public health. What are the legal responses of African governments to this environmental disaster?
Plastic is harmful to the environment. Plastic bags can take several decades to degrade in nature. They are not only dangerous to the environment and animals, but also pose a threat to human health. According to the African Development Bank(AfDB), 500 billion plastic bags are used worldwide each year, much of which is plastic waste that pollutes the oceans, more than 100,000 marine animals die each year from plastics and 83% of tap water contains plastic particles. In 2018, the United Nations World Environment Day aimed to raise awareness of the fight against plastic pollution around the world. African countries have mobilised by adopting different strategies to contain plastic pollution at the national level. Rwanda is the pioneer country in this area with its 2008 law, but Kenya has adopted one of the most repressive laws. According to a recent UN report published in November 2018 on global plastics legislation, other African states have implemented standards to prohibit the proliferation and use of plastics. To date, there are 34 African countries that have adopted legislation against plastic bag pollution: Tanzania is the last on this list.
Some 20 African States such as Angola, Central African Republic, Comoros, Egypt, Liberia, Libya, Nigeria, Sao Tome and Principe are lagging behind, as they only regulate the disposal of plastics at the national level through the legal regime for solid and household waste. Equatorial Guinea, Guinea, Sierra Leone, Somalia, Southern Sudan, and Sudan do not have a national law on the management of solid waste found. In Ghana, there is a law on hazardous and electronic waste that covers the recycling of environmentally dangerous waste.
This article aims to set out the legal framework for combating plastic pollution in the African context, which is currently built around national laws. Indeed, each country’s legislation is built around a defined government strategy to combat plastic pollution: Rwanda remains one of the leading African States in the fight against plastic pollution (I). Other States such as South Africa, Kenya and Senegal have forged their legislation around strict punitive measures, as evidenced by the prison sentences and fines imposed (II). Recently, Tanzania has joined the movement by instituting a legislative framework in this area (III). The objective of this first focus is to note the multiplication of national laws in Africa, particularly in the above-mentioned States.
Rwandan legislation, a pioneer in the fight against plastic pollution
Kigali is one of the 10 cleanest cities in a UN ranking. The Rwandan government launched the “plastic reform in Africa” movement by banning plastic bags in 2008. Rwanda has also succeeded in creating the Rwanda Environmental Management Authority (REMA), which has launched a major information campaign.
The introduction of Law No. 57/2008 of 10 September 2008on the prohibition of the manufacture, import, use and sale of polyethylene bags in Rwanda was a major step. This law is particularly innovative, because Article 2 defines plastic bags according to Rwandan law, which is defined as “a synthetic material of low density, composed of several simple chemical molecules called ethylene of chemical formula CH2=CH2”. Article 3 of the Act sets out the prohibition. It states that “the manufacture, use, import and marketing of plastic bags are prohibited in Rwanda”.Article 4 establishes the principle of exceptional and essential uses. According to this article, “without prejudice to the provisions of Article 3 of this Law, an order of the Prime Minister shall determine the list of types of plastic bags that may be used exceptionally in Rwanda. This list shall be updated whenever necessary. Article 5 deals with authorisation. It provides that “within the framework of the provisions of the article of this law, any person wishing to manufacture, use, import or market plastic bags shall submit a written request for authorisation to the Rwandan Environmental Protection Agency. The request must be duly substantiated and present the procedures for managing the waste resulting from the use of these plastic bags”. The same text goes on to state that “the applicant must obtain the answer within a period not exceeding 20 working days”. 
Article 6 deals with control. It provides that “the institutions authorised to exercise control over the use of plastic bags are the judicial police, customs officers, staff of the Rwandan Environmental Protection Office, staff of the Rwandan Standardisation Office, national security bodies, local authorities and other necessary personnel designated by order of the Minister having Justice in his attributions”.The illegal use of plastic bags can result in fines or imprisonment. Indeed, article 7 deals with penalties, and provides that “anyone who acts against the provisions of this law shall be liable to the following penalties: industries that manufacture plastic bags, commercial companies or any natural person having in their stocks plastic bags prohibited without authorisation by manufacturing or using them, shall be punished by imprisonment for 6 to 12 months and a fine of 100,000 Rwandan francs to 500,000 Rwandan francs or only one of these two penalties. Any unauthorised person selling plastic bags is punished by a fine of 10,000 to 300,000 Rwandan francs. Any unauthorised person using plastic bags is punished by a fine of 5,000 to 100,000 Rwandan francs and their bags are confiscated. All bags belonging to the categories mentioned in this article are confiscated and kept in a warehouse set up for this purpose by the Rwandan Environmental Protection Office (REMA). In the event of a repeat offence, these sanctions are doubled”. Article 8 deals with the final provisions. It provides that “all previous provisions contrary to this law are repealed”. Article 9 provides that “this Law shall enter into force on the day of its publication in the Official Gazette of the Republic of Rwanda”. 
This law now seems to be well applied, as evidenced, for example, by the exchange of plastic bags that are replaced for others, made into biodegradable components at the airport in Kigali. In this region, the leaders were convinced that the success of plastic eradication in one country depends on the willingness of all neighbouring countries to make the same decision. In support of their decision, they imposed financial penalties in the form of fines. Indeed, it is provided that “the country that violates this law will have to pay a fine of US$50,000 in addition to limited sanctions designed to dissuade member countries from importing substances that are dangerous to the environment”. The example of plastic legislation in Rwanda has been followed in East Africa, where the parliament of the Economic Community of East African States has enacted a law prohibiting the use and import of plastic bags within the member countries of the community.
The other three African countries that have instituted prison sentences and fines
South Africa (a), Kenya (b) and Senegal (c) have legislation against plastic pollution that requires a brief analysis in terms of penalties.
(a) South African legislation
South Africa adopted in 2003 the “Regulations under section 24 (d) of the environment conservation act (Act No. 73 of 1989) – Plastic carrier bags and plastic flat bags”,legislation prohibiting plastic bags less than 30 µm thick and imposing a tax on thicker bags (we will come back to the taxation mechanism in a future contribution). As a result, it is prohibited to manufacture, trade and distribute commercially plastic bags produced and imported into Canada.
Article 2 sets out the prohibition in the following terms: “The manufacture, trade and commercial distribution of domestically produced and imported plastic carrier bags and plastic flat bags, for use within the Republic of South Africa, other than those which comply with paragraphs 4 and 5 of the Compulsory Specification, is hereby prohibited”. Fines are provided for failure to comply with the requirements laid down by law and up to ten years’ imprisonment:”(1) Any person who contravenes regulation 2 shall be guilty of an offence and liable on conviction- (a) to a fine or (b) to imprisonment for a period not exceeding 10 years or (c) to both such a fine and such imprisonment; and (d) to a fine not exceeding three times the commercial value of anything in respect of which the offence was committed”.
This new law allows retailers to sell plastic bags, but not to distribute the bags for free.
(b) Kenyan legislation
The Kenyan government has tried to implement plastic reform three times in ten years, with two unsuccessful attempts in 2007 and 2011.
In a notice in the country’s official gazette dated February 28, 2017 (Notice of publication in Gazette No. 2356), the Secretary of the Environment and Natural Resources Cabinet, Judi W. Wakhungu, announced a ban on the use, manufacture and import of all plastic bags used for commercial and domestic packaging purposes. Since August 2017, the ban has applied to two categories of bags: on the one hand, the transport bag, a “bag made with handles and with or without gussets”, and on the other hand, the flat bag, a “bag made without handles and with or without gussets”. 
Kenya has introduced a prison sentence of up to four years or a fine of up to USD 40,000 for offenders. It should also be noted that in May 2014, the City of Nairobi adopted a regulatory act, The Nairobi city county plastic carry bags control bill, aimed at controlling the use of plastic bags.
(c) Senegalese legislation
Act No. 2015-09 of May 4, 2015prohibits the production, import, holding, distribution, use of thin plastic bags and the rational management of plastic waste. This Senegalese legislation prohibits not only the production and import of plastic bags with a thickness of less than 30 microns (article 2), but also the possession and use of plastic bags with a thickness of 30 microns or more (article 3).
Operators in the plastics sector are required to offer households and other users a system for collecting or taking back plastic waste for recovery, recycling or disposal (Article 6).
In the event of a breach of the legislation, offenders may be liable to imprisonment with fines. For example, the production or manufacture of plastic bags in violation of the provisions of article 2 of this law is punishable by a fine of 10,000,000 to 20,000,000 CFA francs and imprisonment from three months to six months or only one of these two penalties (article 10). The importation into the national territory of plastic bags with a thickness of less than 30 microns is a customs offence established, prosecuted and punished in accordance with the provisions of the Customs Code (Article 11). The use, possession for the purpose of offering for sale, offering for sale and selling or distributing free of charge plastic bags of a thickness of less than 30 microns shall be punishable by a fine of 20,000 to 50,000 CFA francs (article 12). A fine of 10,000 to 30,000 CFA francs shall be imposed on anyone who abandons or throws plastic waste elsewhere than at the collection or return points provided for that purpose (article 14). Legal entities other than the State, local authorities and public institutions shall be criminally liable for offences provided for in this Act committed on their behalf by their organs or representatives. The liability of legal persons does not exclude the liability of natural persons, perpetrators or accomplices in the same acts (Article 15). The penalties incurred by legal persons who commit the offence shall be punishable either by a fine at a maximum rate equal to five times the rate laid down for natural persons by the law punishing the offence, or by the permanent closure or for a period of five years at most of one or more of the company’s establishments used to commit the offences, the confiscation of the thing that was used or intended to commit the offence or the thing that is the proceeds or the posting of the decision or its dissemination either in the written press or by any means of communication to the public by electronic means.
Tanzanian legislation adopted in May 2019
Tanzania has just adopted plastic legislationpublished under Government Notice No. 394 of May 17, 2019 to prevent the import, export, manufacture, sale, storage, supply and use of plastic bags, regardless of their thickness (article 4). According to Article 1, this Regulation entered into force in mainland Tanzania on June 1, 2019. This legislation also prohibits the sale or offer for sale of goods packaged in plastic unless the nature of the goods requires plastic packaging (Article 6).
In addition, after June 1, 2019, no competent authority may register or issue a licence or permit to any person who intends to import, export, manufacture or sell plastic bags must register to obtain a licence or permit (section 7).
Finally, this regulation imposes severe penalties on individuals and institutions found guilty of violating the regulation. For example, the manufacture or importation of prohibited plastic bags and plastic packaging may result in fines of up to one billion shillings or imprisonment for up to two years, or both (article 8 (a)). Similarly, possession and use may result in fines of up to 200,000 shillings or imprisonment for up to seven days, or both (article 8 (e)).
***
There are currently 34 African countries that have adopted legislation to combat plastic pollution.
The following is a summary list of these States by African sub-regions:



 
African sub-regions
Total number of  sub-regional States that have adopted legislation against plastic pollution
 
Year of adoption of the law


North Africa
1 State on 5
Morocco (law 2015)


West Africa
11 States on 16
Benin (2017), Burkina Faso (2014), Cape Verde (2016), Côte d’Ivoire (law 2014), Gambia (2015), Guinea Bissau (2013), Mali (2013), Mauritania (2013), Niger (2013), Senegal (2015), Togo (2011).


Central Africa
4 States on 8
Cameroon (2012), Chad (1992), Democratic Republic of the Congo (2018), Gabon (2010).


East Africa
13 States on 16
Burundi (2018), Djibouti (2016), Erythrée (2005), Kenya (2017), Madagascar (2017), Malawi (2015), Maurice (2006), Mozambique (2015), Ouganda (2018), Tanzanie (2019), Rwanda (2008), Seychelles (2017), Somaliland (2015).


Southern Africa
5 States on 8
Botswana (2018), Namibia (2018), South Africa (2003), Zambia (2009), Zimbabwe (2010).


 This first focus of the study of African national legislation on the fight against the scourge of plastic has examined the most significant and innovative laws in this field. Rwanda is the leading country on the continent and in the East African region in raising awareness of the plastic threat to health and the environment. Senegal, Rwanda and Kenya do not deny this movement, as their laws provide for prison sentences and fines to any natural or legal person who contravenes the new standard adopted. In a second focus to come, therefore, we will provide developments on other plastic pollution control mechanisms implemented by other African States.
By Chancia PLAINE
Jurist in environmental law, Huglo Lepage Lawyers
@Chancia Plaine (Twitter) – @DroitEnvAfrique (Twitter)
Further reading: UN environment, Legal Limits on Single-Use Plastics and Microplastics: A Global Review of National Laws and Regulations, report, December 2018, 114p.


Senegal

Government of Senegal

Act&nbsp;No. 2015-09 of May 4, 2015, prohibits the production, import, holding, distribution, use of thin plastic bags and the rational management of plastic waste. This Senegalese legislation prohibits not only the production and import of plastic bags with a thickness of less than 30 microns (Article 2), but also the possession and use of plastic bags with a thickness of 30 microns or more (Article 3). In the event of a breach of the legislation, offenders may be liable to imprisonment with fines. For example, the production or manufacture of plastic bags in violation of the provisions of Article 2 of this law is punishable by a fine of 10,000,000 to 20,000,000 CFA francs (15,000€ to 30,000€) and imprisonment from three months to six months or only one of these two penalties (Article 10).&nbsp;

Senegalese legislation about plastic pollution

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This collection comes from the <a href="https://www.circle-economy.com/circular-jobs-initiative/" target="_blank">Circular Jobs Initiative</a>, an initiative of Circle Economy.

The workforce is an essential lever for transforming our economy from linear to circular. The Circular Jobs Initiative aims to maximise the employment opportunities offered by the circular economy. It provides practical support and insights to businesses and governments that want to adopt circular strategies that have a positive social impact.The Circular Jobs Initiative works through three focus areas: 

- Upskilling the workforce

- Quality of work

- Inclusive job opportunities 

CJI has defined circular jobs as any occupation that directly involves or indirectly supports one of the strategies of the circular economy. It distinguishes between three types of circular jobs: core, enabling and indirectly circular jobs.

**Core circular jobs** are all jobs that ensure the closure of raw material cycles, including jobs in repair, renewable energy, waste and resource management. 

**‍Enabling circular jobs** are jobs that remove barriers for and enable the acceleration and upscaling of core circular activities, including jobs that arise in leasing, education, design and digital technology. 

**Indirectly circular jobs** are jobs that occur in other sectors that do not play a direct role in furthering the transition to the circular economy but can still adopt circular strategies. They include jobs that provide services to core circular strategies, including jobs in information services, logistics and the public sector.

The Knowledge Hub Collection includes examples of circular jobs, publications, reports, case studies and policies different organisations, governments and businesses are already using to advocate for a person-centred circular economy. 

Visit the <a href="https://www.circle-economy.com/circular-jobs-initiative/" target="_blank">Circular Jobs Initiative</a>

Visit the <a href="http://jobsmonitor.circle-economy.com/" target="_blank">Circular Jobs Monitor</a>

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Circular Jobs Initiative

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Impact on the quantity or quality of jobs, and shifts in the labour market

Jobs

Contribution to social parity, or impact on social disparity

Equality

Reduced use of fossil fuel energy sources and/or increased use of renewable energy

Reduce Energy Consumption

Participating in government programmes that support and advance the circular economy

Government programmes

Provide guidance or professional training to educate employees to use circular economy principles

Training on the circular economy

'Inform' increases the overall levels of awareness and builds the necessary skills and knowledge around the circular economy to foster long-term change.

Inform

Integrate principles of circularity into primary, secondary and tertiary curriculum and conduct workplace trainings

 Education and Curriculum

'Mobilise' sets the direction of and builds momentum towards long-term change, while also determining how this direction is determined and governed.

Mobilise

Visions and Ambitions

Roadmaps and strategies and targets

Govern the Transition

Institutional design to enable circularity

 Develop research, structure knowledge, encourage innovation networks and disseminate findings with integrity


Strengthen and advance knowledge

 Some forty Non-Governmental Organisations and Cooperative societies received compost bins and composting tools in presence of the Minister of Environment, Solid Waste Management and Climate Change, Mr. Kavydass Ramano, this afternoon, in Port-Louis.
In his address, the Minister highlighted that the promotion of effective waste management, recycling and waste sorting are at the cornerstone of his Ministry's agenda. In our objective to move towards a circular economy, sustainable waste management will be called upon to play a pivotal role, he stated.
Mr. Kavydass Ramano underlined that the beneficiaries of the initiative will act as agents of change to promote a cleaner, greener and more inclusive Mauritius. The compost produced could be used as fertilizer in gardens, thus reducing the use of chemical fertilizers. He underpinned the core objective of the initiative which is to educate and raise awareness on the importance of producing compost and its uses. It aims at improving the lifestyle of Mauritians by encouraging them to change their behaviour and adopt responsible attitudes towards the production and disposal of waste and encourage household waste sorting, the production of household compost and the use of organic fertilizers for gardening, he added.
In addition, the Minister indicated that the project aims at reducing the amount of landfilled waste. Rethinking waste management, he said, is crucial at this point, as some 540 000 tons of waste are collected each year in the country and the Mare Chicose Sanitary Landfill has reached a saturation point.       Get the latest in African news delivered straight to your inbox      By submitting above, you agree to our privacy policy. 
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 Furthermore, Minister Ramano spoke on the benefits of establishing a circular economy as an alternative to the traditional linear economy, namely the continual use of resources and utilising materials at their highest utility and value at all times.
He also indicated that the elaboration of the National Environmental Strategy for 2020- 2030 is in its final phase and will help the country to scale up efforts to address environmental challenges and implement actions for a sustainable environment.
The Minister emphasised that protecting and preserving the environment are fundamental human values that need to be upheld by everyone and inculcated to the next generations.
Key measures that Budget 2020-2021 makes provision for , namely: Eco-bins will be made available at strategic places across the island for the collection of plastic wastes; the setting up a network of Civic Amenity Centres at the 5 Transfer Stations; encouraging segregation of waste at source and Local Authorities will carry out composting of market waste. 

Senegal’s National Strategy Promotion of Green Jobs In 2015, with the support of the Partnership for Action on Green Economy (PAGE), the Government of Senegal elaborated Senegal’s National Strategy for the Promotion of Green Jobs (SNEV Strategy) in a participatory manner. The SNEV Strategy is in part being implemented through the Support Programme for the Creation of Green Jobs Opportunities (PACEV), which is funded by the Government of Senegal and UNDP and supported financially and technically by PAGE. Through PACEV, the SNEV Strategy has taken a great first step, but it needs more financial support and further improvement. The strong political will behind the SNEV Strategy, which is currently being evaluated, indicates that it is likely that the Strategy will be continued beyond 2020.  Due to its future-just vision, the positive early socio-economic and environmental results, its participatory approach, and its respect for the Future Justice Principles (5.5/7), the SNEV Strategy is recognized with Future Policy Vision Award 2019, awarded by the World Future Council in partnership with UNDP and ILO.
At A Glance

The SNEV Strategy serves as a reference framework for green jobs in a resilient economy. It focuses on strengthening the legislative, institutional and regulatory framework; creating green job opportunities; building human capacities; developing an appropriate financing policy; advocacy; and setting up mechanisms for monitoring and sustainability. 
In 2015, the goal was to create 5,000 decent and sustainable green jobs within seven years (by 2022).  As of June 2019, about 2,000 jobs have been created, indicating PACEV is gradually on its way to achieving its initial targets.
Of the green jobs projects that have been created, 24% have been successful and 64% were implemented satisfactorily. Young people and women constitute the majority of beneficiaries. 
Recycling, aquaculture and forestry projects all generated a return on investment in the second year of production.  PACEV has also led to first steps towards institution-building, inspiring the establishment of a National Platform on Green Economy

Policy Reference
Senegal’s National Strategy for the Promotion of Green Jobs (SNEV Strategy), 2015-2020
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Senegal’s National Strategy for Economic and Social Development (2013-2017)
Selection as a Future-Just Policy
SNEV shows how a participatory and collaborative approach can lead to great success. The strong political will behind the programme has strengthened the legislative, institutional and regulatory framework of Senegal – leading to the creation of green jobs. Sustainability is at the core of the programme, which is funded and technically supported by the UNDP. 
In the programmes short lifetime, it has started providing decent and sustainable jobs, gradually moving towards its initial targets. The Programme has successfully targeted young people and women, constituting most of its beneficiaries. For its noteworthy future vision, the SNEV Strategy is recognized with Future Policy Vision Award 2019.
  Future-Just Policy Score Card


Our “Best Policies” are those that meet the Future Just Lawmaking Principles and recognise the interconnected challenges we face today. The goal of principled policy work is to ensure that important universal standards of sustainability and equity, human rights and freedoms, and respect for the environment are taken into account. It also helps to increase policy coherence between different sectors.

   Sustainable use of natural resources

In line with the SDGs and Agenda 2030.
Promotes rational and sustainable use of the country’s available resources, i.e. forestry, plastic waste recycling, empowerment of people.
Benefits from strong political support, support from local communities.
Global budget of 200 million CFA franc; not sufficient to reach set goals, but a good start and a lot can be done with limited resources.
  Equity and poverty eradication

Overall focus on young women and men (30-40 years), mostly unemployed and rural, includes women (55%), people with reduced mobility, also urban. 
Mindful of territorial fairness. 
Promotes self-employment, local entrepreneurship to empower young people.
Operationalized through PACEV.
   Precautionary approach

Globally promotes prevention and precautionary approach to human health and natural resources, avoiding negative consequences; no scientific proof.
For instance, the promoted waste management is an important factor to improve public health, the use of better ovens and organic charcoal, etc.
Annual SNEV report done. Impact evaluation not yet available.
Inspired by green economy/jobs reports and based on international conventions such CBD, UNCCD, with climate change at the core of the strategy.
   Public participation, access to information and justice

Developed in a participatory consultation process with 5 workshops in all regions of Senegal, involving NGOs, state officials, youth and women. 
Youth organisations are involved in implementation, as project beneficiaries.
Encourages participation and interaction of youth with their peers and the community.
Works very transparently but not all the information is available online yet (due to current reorganisation process in the Ministry). 
No means available to communicate more (i.e. in schools, via radio), also the budget not sufficient to support more people.
   Good governance and human security

Good governance, the mechanisms and institutions meet regularly. Adequate evaluation and monitoring mechanisms, but no regional committees yet.
Measures against corruption (Gives first up to 70% of project material, later if successful 30% is given in cash). 
Recognizes that some beneficiaries are women and youth without any means to reimburse, reflects on maximizing safeguards to limit abuse.
   Integration and interrelationship

Integrated into the National Policy on Youth Employment, National Employment Strategy, Emerging Senegal Plan and taken into account by other sectors.
Encourages joint decision-making but no intersectoral coordination mechanism.
Contributes to stop the rural exodus and emigration, integrates youth and produces a better social stability, sustainable manages natural resources.

  Common but differentiated responsibilities

Takes into account and addresses territorial inequalities.
Appropriate and adapted to the existing level of technology, scientific knowledge, financial and human resources, respects cultural and social values.
Highly inclusive: does not impose inappropriate charges on vulnerable groups, tries to adapt to each circumstance, but to also maintain a minimum of rules.

Context
To promote green jobs, Senegal launched a first pilot project in 2012 with the support of Dutch Cooperation, for which the Ministry of the Environment set itself the objective of creating 2,000 sustainable and decent green jobs for young people and women. Moreover, since 2012, Senegal has been seeking to harmonize the laws and regulations and international and regional instruments related to the green economy ratified by the State. In 2013, Senegal put in place a National Economic and Social Development Strategy (SNDES) that seeks to reduce the impact of shocks that directly threaten people’s lives. In June 2014, Senegal started to cooperate with the Partnership for Action on Green Economy (PAGE, a joint initiative on green economy by UNEP, ILO, UNIDO, UNITAR and UNDP) in the form of an exploratory study mission, which allowed to consult the various national stakeholders and development partners concerned with the green economy. This cooperation led to the development of an initial action plan that was later transformed into a framework to serve as a reference document for collaboration between Senegal and the PAGE agencies.
Senegal’s National Strategy for the Promotion of Green Jobs (SNEV) was formulated in 2015 through a participatory process, involving workshops in all regions of the country. In June 2015, a Southern Eco-regional workshop was organized by the Green Financing and Partnerships Directorate of the Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Development, in collaboration with PAGE and the ILO. Attendees to the workshop included Kolda civil servants, local authorities, NGOs, CBOs and green job promoters, from the regions of Kédougou, Tambacounda, Ziguinchor, Sédhiou and Kolda. In November 2015, the Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Development, in collaboration with PAGE and social partners, organized the first 2-day conference on the green economy. The aim of the conference was to offer national stakeholders a platform for exchange and sharing of experiences on the transition to a green economy in Senegal.
Currently, in order to have the basis for decision-making in 2020 and to decide how the strategy will be continued, an evaluation of the SNEV is underway. It appears there is a strong political will to continue with the SNEV in the future.
Objectives
The SNEV Strategy serves as a reference framework for green jobs in a resilient economy. It focuses on strengthening the legislative, institutional and regulatory framework; creating green job opportunities; building human capacities; developing an appropriate financing policy; advocacy; and setting up mechanisms for monitoring and sustainability. 
Methods of Implementation
The SNEV Strategy is mainly implemented through the PACEV programme. Through PACEV it promotes inclusive entrepreneurship that is more open to youth and women (especially the heads of poor, low-income households) and has four main functions: 1. To provide the necessary information, in the form of awareness, knowledge, technology and know-how; 2. To offer the incentives to boost engagement with low-income communities; 3. To launch the investments required by companies; and 4. To support implementation, in terms of logistics, transactions, and marketing. 
In particular, it promotes and develops new sectors for green jobs creation, such as distributing and maintaining mobile kiosks with solar panels, a drinking water production sector, and a sector recycling energy efficient lamps. It also reinforces and consolidates existing sectors, such as urban and rural waste valorization, aquaculture, sustainable agriculture and forestry. Furthermore, it provides capacity building and training for actors for sustainable green jobs.  In terms of monitoring, an independent mid-term evaluation was undertaken of PACEV in 2018. A final evaluation will take place in 2020. 
The 5-year budget of PACEV is USD 5 million.  An additional five-year budget of €304,898 (200 million CFA franc) is provided to the SNEV measures beyond PACEV (not all has yet been mobilized). 
Impact
In 2015, about 1,000 jobs in target regions were created with the support of PAGE and the ILO.  By June 2019, it was reported that about 2,000 green jobs had been created. 
According to a report evaluating SNEV’s implementation from 2013 until 2017, about 24% of the projects have been successful and 64% of projects were implemented satisfactorily, whilst 9% of the projects had to be put on hold. Among the projects that have been successfully carried out, include, for example: the Proplast Industrie SARL’s plastic waste collection and recycling project which created more than 50 jobs and consolidated 200 green jobs; the project to collect forest seeds from kéwré (Leppeuy Bakh Group) involving more than 100 women (20 direct and 75 indirect green jobs); and the agroforestry project to support rural entrepreneurship in the village of Thiedèly (GIE des Femmes de Thiedèly), empowering more than 100 women, with 30 families benefitting from the yields and 50 green jobs created. The majority of project beneficiaries are young people (male and female) and women. Out of 43 funded projects, 16 are led by women and 8 by young people and women, while the remaining 19 are implemented by young people. Recycling, aquaculture and forestry projects all generated a return on investment in the second year of production and created new jobs. 
The Mid-Term Evaluation (MTE) of the SNEV action plan of 2018 indicates that there was an implementation rate of 48%. Additional accomplishments include the establishment of a monitoring and evaluation system, of databases and the evaluation of impacts at the economic, social and environmental levels, and of green job courses in institutes and vocational training centres to develop the skills of young people and women. Highlighted problems include: insufficient resources to finance green jobs; failure to meet the target to provide access to finance to young entrepreneurs; the lack of an established support fund;  lack of clear vision on the green economy despite strong political will;  and the need for greater involvement of the private sector.
Potential as a Transferable Model
The policy is being taken as a model by other countries such as Burkina Faso and Ghana. Cooperation with Burkina Faso is strong.  Many elements of the SNEV are transferable and countries such as Gambia or Mauritania may be interested. Senegal is cooperating in particular with Ghana and Burkina Faso. 
Additional Resources
IED Afrique, ECONOMIE VERTE AU SÉNÉGAL : ENJEUX ET PERSPECTIVES, 2018 (FRENCH)
IUCN, Senegal Green Economy Barometer 2018, 2018
Massolia, Le Sénégal compte créer 5000 emplois verts, 2015 (FRENCH)
UNEP, Mid-term Evaluation (MTE) of the UN Environment-ILO-UNDP-UNIDO-UNITAR project ‘Partnership for Action on Green Economy (PAGE), 2017
UNITAR, Cartographie des besoins et des capacités institutionnelles d’apprentissage en économie verte inclusive Sénégal, 2018 (FRENCH)
 

Burkina Faso

UNDP

Partnership for Action on Green Economy (PAGE)

 Creation of Green Jobs Opportunities (PACEV)

Government of Burkina Faso

The National Strategy for the Promotion of Green Jobs (SNEV) serves as a reference framework for green jobs in a resilient economy. It focuses on strengthening the legislative, institutional and regulatory framework; creating green job opportunities; building human capacities; developing an appropriate financing policy; advocacy; and setting up mechanisms for monitoring and sustainability. The SNEV strategy was implemented through the PACEV programme which enables the promotion of inclusive entrepreneurship that is more open to youth and women (especially the heads of poor, low-income households). In particular, it promotes and develops new sectors for green jobs creation, such as distributing and maintaining mobile kiosks with solar panels, a drinking water production sector, and a sector recycling energy-efficient lamps. It also reinforces and consolidates existing sectors, such as urban and rural waste valorization, aquaculture, sustainable agriculture and forestry.

National Strategy for the Promotion of Green Jobs (SNEV)

Reduced green house gas emissions released into the biosphere

Reduce Emissions (SDG13)

Cross-departmental collaboration and engagement

           22 February 2018, Dakar, Senegal – Senegal has established a National Platform on the Green Economy aimed at stimulating green growth and development. The multi-stakeholder platform will be a forum for dialogue, information sharing and coordinating action on issues such as green financing, climate change, green jobs, and the sustainable exploitation of the country’s oil and gas resources.The announcement came during the Green Economy Days event in Dakar (February 20-21) organized by the Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Development in collaboration with the Institute of Environmental Sciences (ISE) and the Partnership for Action on Green Economy (PAGE).Participants from the Senegalese government, local authorities, civil society, workers’ and employers’ organizations, and academic institutions focused on the following issues and made several recommendations during the event:           

Senegal has established a National Platform on the Green Economy aimed at stimulating green growth and development. The multi-stakeholder platform will be a forum for dialogue, information sharing and coordinating action on issues such as green financing, climate change, green jobs, and the sustainable exploitation of the country’s oil and gas resources.