Nairobians will soon be forced to pay for the packaging plastic bags used to carry their shopping from supermarkets and other avenues if Governor Evans Kidero signs into law a new Bill approved by the county assembly.

The 2016 Nairobi County Plastic Control Bill, which is sponsored by Umoja I Ward Representative Njoroge Maina, aims to reduce the chocking plastic bags pollution by encouraging consumers to recycle the bags as well as explore other means of carrying their goods.

“The main object of this Bill is to outline legislative measures for controlling the manufacture, usage and disposal of plastic carry bags… so as to conserve, restore and maintain a clean environment and control pollution within the precincts of Nairobi City County,” Mr Maina says in the Bill’s memorandum.

According to Bill, the county’s environment department will set the price for the bags based on quality and size and retailers will not be allowed to offer the bags for free to consumers as it’s the norm.

“No retailer shall make available to consumers any plastic bags free of charge,” the Bill states.

The proposed law was re-introduced last week on Wednesday after it was withdrawn in November 2014 for further consultations.

According to the views shared on social media, Nairobians are actually welcoming the move, which they say is way overdue however majority are still skeptical that the law will be effected.

“it’s about time, this plastic bag menace is shocking our city,” said a city resident William.

“We have heard this song for the longest time ever,hope this time its for real” lucy Mwangi added.

Over 24 million plastic bags are used monthly in Kenya, half of which end up in the solid waste mainstream and now constitute the biggest challenge to solid waste management in the country.