IN FOCUS: Experiencing Rwanda’s plastic bag ban, and whether Singapore could adopt a similar approach

Separately, my colleague who stored a paper bag with banana cake in the fridge found that the bag tore easily after a few days kept in cooler temperatures.

When asked about such concerns, REMA acknowledged that people had become dependent on plastic because it is cheap to produce, light and therefore easy and cheap to transport, and “incredibly” strong and durable.

“But it’s these advantages which also make it so harmful. The micro-plastics that result from these processes are harmful to the environment. It is also very difficult to recycle,” the spokesperson said.

“Shoppers are encouraged to make more environmentally friendly choices in packing and transporting items.”

CHALLENGES ABOUND

Still, there continues to be some pushback.

REMA said some people still smuggle plastic bags into Rwanda, something alluded to by local non-governmental organisation Rema Environment Awareness Organization.

“We are doing a lot, but when your neighbours don’t have that policy, I think it will be difficult for us,” said its project coordinator Johnson Kayitare, pointing out that people could buy plastic bags in countries like Congo, Burundi and Tanzania and bring them across the border.

Mr Alan Gahamanyi, who runs a supermarket on a busy street in Kigali, told me that some customers have “begged” to be given a plastic bag so they could use it at home, for instance, to store vegetables.

“It’s illegal,” the 31-year-old said. “Unless I pack meat in it, I cannot give you one.”