The effect of plastic bags ban on the prevalence of plastic bags waste in the rumen of slaughtered livestock at three abattoirs in Nairobi Metropolis, Kenya and the implications on livestock industry

C N Lange, F Inganga, W Busienei, P Nguru, J Kiema and S Ngeywo

National Environment Management Authority, P O Box 67839 - 00200, Nairobi, Kenya
clange@nema.go.ke

Abstract

This study presents findings on the patterns of prevalence of plastic bags waste in the rumen of slaughtered livestock from three abattoirs in Nairobi Metropolis before and after the plastic bags ban in Kenya. Data was collected in July 2017 before the plastic bags ban and in two follow-up studies in January 2018 and June 2019 after the ban by inspecting all slaughtered livestock for plastic bags in the rumen for 5 days. A total of 9870 slaughtered livestock were inspected for plastic bags during the entire study period. Majority of the slaughtered livestock were from Dagoretti (54.64%) followed by Kiserian (30.08%) and finally Kenya Meat Commission (15.28%). The livestock slaughtered at Kenya Meat Commission recorded the greatest prevalence compared to other abattoirs which could be attributed to the sources of livestock which were likely more polluted with plastic bags waste. Higher prevalence levels were recorded before the plastic bags ban compared to after the ban. The findings demonstrate the positive effect of the plastic bags ban via Gazette Notice Number 2334 on reducing plastic bags waste ingestion by livestock in Kenya and therefore the benefit for the livestock industry and environment conservation.

Key words: Africa, environment, pollution

Introduction

Solid waste has become one of the major global environmental and public health concern. In 2012, it was projected that solid waste had practically doubled over ten years period and was expected to reach 2.5 billion tons per year by 2025 as a result of the combined effect of urban development and changes in consumption patterns (Périou 2012). The patterns of solid waste increase has plugged many countries to immense environmental conservation challenges and the situation is becoming dire in developing countries with limited capacity for solid waste management. This is because, communities in developing countries often turn to waste disposal methods that have proven destructive to human health and the environment, such as open dumping and burning (or unregulated landfills) because they feel they have no other options to manage their solid waste (Mwanthi and Nyabola 1997; Goett 1998; Alavi Moghadam et al 2009; Narayana 2009; Al-Khatib et al 2015; Hilburn 2015). In Kenya, like other developing countries solid waste remains largely a great challenge characterized by open dumping of waste, inefficient public services, and limited key solid waste management infrastructure (Njoroge et al 2014). This situation leads to low solid waste collection coverage and as a result cause environmental pollution creating a public health concern (Njoroge et al 2014). In 2010, JICA (2010) estimated solid waste collection rate in Nairobi city at about 33% and nine years later solid waste management still remains a challenge.

Among the various types of solid waste generated in Kenya, plastic bags pollution particularly the single use plastic bags previously become of greatest concern across the country (Lange et al 2018). In 2010, Aurah (2013) estimated that over 24 million plastic bags were used in Kenya monthly and half of this ended up in municipal solid waste and the management of the plastic bags waste was however inefficient. UNEP in 2005 attributed the growing problem of plastic bags pollution to the culture of giving them either free or being inexpensive material for sales packaging across the country (UNEP 2005). By 2017, most environments particularly at the urban and peri-urban environments in Kenya were polluted with plastic bags and the situation was bound to worsen. The plastic bags pollution then started to affect key sector of Kenya’s development. For instance, studies by Lange et al (2018) reported on an occasion where out of all animals slaughtered at one of the Kenya’s major abattoir at Kenya Meat Commission (KMC), Athi River in Nairobi per-urban, over 50% of the livestock slaughtered had ingested plastic bags waste in the rumens and the animals with plastic bags waste generally presented weak conditions. Owing to increasing patterns of plastic bags pollution to the environment, the Government of Kenya in 2017 through Gazette notice number 2334 banned the use, manufacture and importation of plastic bags in Kenya effective end of August, 2017 (Government of Kenya 2017). Compliance enforcement work started after August, 2017 across the country. Monitoring the effects of the plastic bags ban on the prevalence of plastic bags on the rumens of slaughtered livestock from three abattoirs assessed prior to effecting the ban continued post the ban. This paper therefore presents the findings on patterns of prevalence of plastic bags waste in the rumens of slaughtered livestock before and after the plastic bags ban from the three abattoirs in Nairobi Metropolis, Kenya.

Materials and methods

The study followed Lange et al (2018) method and baseline study was undertaken in July 2017 before the plastic bags ban and follow-up studies after the ban were undertaken in January 2018 and June 2019. The studies involved visits to three abattoirs notably; Dagoretti, Kiserian and Kenya Meat Commission (KMC) abattoirs and inspection all slaughtered livestock rumens for plastic bags. Records of total number of livestock slaughtered and those with plastic bags waste in rumens were captured. Observations on the plastic bags waste colour was also made and recorded. Dagoretti abattoir is in Kaimbu county, Kiserian in Kajiado county and Kenya Meat Commission in Machakos County. Data was collected continuously for 5 days at each abattoir for each study period.

Results

Table 1 shows the total number of livestock slaughtered at each abattoir, study period and those recorded with plastic bags in rumen before the ban in July 2017 and after the ban in January 2018 and June 2019. A total of 9870 livestock were slaughtered and inspected for plastics bags in the livestock rumens. Majority of the slaughtered livestock were from Dagoretti (54.64%) followed by Kiserian (30.08%) and finally Kenya Meat Commission (15.28%). The greatest number of livestock were inspected in 2018 follow-up study. The number of livestock with plastic bags in rumen presented lower levels after the plastic bags ban compared to before the ban (Table, 1).

The pattern for prevalence of plastic bags waste in the rumen of slaughtered livestock varied widely among the three abattoirs (Figure 1). The livestock slaughtered at Kenya Meat Commission recorded the greatest prevalence compared to other abattoirs which could be attributed to the sources of livestock which were likely more polluted with plastic bags waste.

Figure 1. Prevalence of plastic bags waste in the rumen of slaughtered livestock at three abattoirs in Kenya before and after the plastic bags ban implemented from 31st August 2017

Examination of the plastics bags waste from the rumens of slaughtered livestock presented black, green, yellow, white and red colour plastic bags wastes at various study periods. Polythene sacks, nylon clothes to synthetic hair were also recorded in the livestock rumens. Black plastic bags waste appeared the most dominant plastic bags waste in the livestock rumen.

Discussion

This study presents patterns of prevalence of plastic bags waste in the slaughtered livestock rumens from three abattoirs in Nairobi Metropolis before and after the plastic bags ban in Kenya. The present study findings show that some livestock still have plastic bags waste in the rumens. According to Adane and Muleta (2011) plastics take a long time to biodegrade and can persist up to 1000 years. Upon ingestion, it is possible that these small fragments may present a physical hazard in a similar way to larger items of debris by clogging feeding appendages or the digestive system (Laist 1997; Derraik 2002). Therefore the livestock that ingested plastic bags waste before the plastic bags ban will continue to host the plastic bags in the rumens. There are also remnants of the plastic bags in the environment and some livestock may still be ingesting plastic bags waste while feeding in discriminatory in the fields.

The observations that the follow-up studies after the plastic bags ban recorded lower prevalence’s compared to baseline survey before the plastic bags ban is an indication that the plastic bags ban has had an effect in reducing ingestion of plastic bags waste by livestock. According to Aurah (2013), poor solid waste management in Kenya allowed plastic bags litter the environment extensively. As a result, before the plastic bags ban plastic bags waste accumulated abundantly in livestock grazing fields making it easily to be picked by livestock while feeding indiscriminatory. Following the plastic bags ban and subsequently compliance enforcement, the plastic bags reduced in the environment and therefore were not readily available in grazing fields for ingestion by livestock. The observation of declining prevalence of plastics bag waste in the rumen of slaughtered livestock after the plastic bags ban is a positive news to the livestock industry. Previously studies by Nandwa (2014), reported that livestock that ingest these plastic bags suffer depression, reduced milk yield and bloat. Lange et al (2018) also reported that the livestock reported with plastic bags waste in the rumen from three abattoirs in Kenya in 2017 generally presented weak conditions. Studies by Spear et al (1995) on seabirds provided evidence that the higher the number of plastic particles ingested, the worse the physical condition (body weight) of these birds from the tropical Pacific. The present study observations therefore demonstrate the negative effect of plastic bags waste on the livestock industry which is supposed to contribute about 4.4% of Kenya’s Growth Domestic Product (Government of Kenya 2018) in addition to the environmental benefits.

Apart from the plastic bags, the follow-up studies recorded synthetic hair and other nylon based products waste on the rumen of livestock suggesting that management strategies of these material waste is also necessary to safeguard livestock health.

Conclusion

• The study presents patterns of declining prevalence of plastic bags waste in the rumen of slaughtered livestock following the plastic bags ban through Gazette Notice number 2334 of 2017.
  
  
• These findings demonstrate the positive effect of plastic bags ban in reducing the challenges faced by pastoralists in safeguarding livestock from health challenges associated with plastic bags waste ingestion.
  
  
• In this regard, compliance enforcements efforts should be heightened to eliminate the banned plastic bags to realize the full benefits of the illegal plastic bags free country.

Acknowledgements

The three studies were supported by the National Environment Management Authority and wish to thank the Director General, NEMA for the support. We also thank the management of Kenya Meat Commission, Dagorretti and Kiserian abattoirs for allowing data collection at their facilities.

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Received 1 November 2019; Accepted 1 January 2020; Published 1 February 2020

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