THE STANDARD
OPINION
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In recent years, Kenya and Korea have undertaken increasingly progressive environmental initiatives.
Kenya’s 2017 ban on single-use plastics demonstrates the government’s determination in tackling its urban waste disposal issue. I learnt that prior to this, more than 100 million plastic bags were used and discarded in the country every year. It is impressive how quickly Kenyans have adjusted to the new norm by switching to alternatives. In 2019, Korea introduced a ban on disposable plastic bags in supermarkets and other retailers. A public awareness campaign to reduce plastic use has quickly become a new way of life.
In the area of waste management, Korea s experience is worth noting. With rapid economic growth, urbanisation, and industrialisation throughout the 1970s and 1980s, it was inevitable that Korea, a small country with a high population, had to confront an increasing amount of waste. Seoul’s Nanji Waste Landfill, after 15 year