When the government of Cameroon decided to ban non –biodegradable plastics on reasonable environmental grounds that clog water ways, spoil the landscape and end up in landfills which takes thousands  years to breakdown into particles that pollute the soil and water. We all celebrated it as an environmental breakthrough and new era of environmentalism in Cameroon without asking, how effective this would be?

When we took a survey of some few people, in the capital city of Yaoundé as a way of celebrating the World Environmental Day approaching. We realized the ban by government through the Ministry of Environment, Protection of Nature and Sustainable Development on the sale of non –biodegradable sacks in the country since April 2014 which i reported about   is yet to have the desired impact. We see it as just a policy on paper for the situation has not really change-old habits of stockpiles of plastics persisting in most neighborhoods.

First of all, biodegradable plastics are very rare in the markets and very expensive since there were few plants involve in their production. Since the time of the ban just a handful of companies /enterprises respect the ban like the pharmacies may be because of their high level of turnovers and market monopoly.

Secondly, the Ministry proposes an alternative way of packaging through the use of banana/plantain leaves which is impossible in the 21st century and somehow could be partially applicable only in rural areas. Some businesses like provision stores and cold stores are using newspapers but most at times problematic with customers who buy in bulk.

Thirdly, the government did not give companies in charge of producing plastic bags / packages the time to change their production strategies or subsidize the production of these biodegradable bags, because till date some are still producing non –biodegradable bags through black market outlets.

Lastly, the government did not consider the effect of neighboring countries around Cameroon such as Nigeria, Chad, and Gabon.He neglected their impact on this very important environmental policy. There has    been a great influx of non- biodegradable plastics from these countries through black market outlets into the country since they are becoming rare and in high demand.