Thin plastics float lazily in the cool breeze drifting across shopfronts at Manje Trading Centre, a densely populated area on the southeastern outskirts of Blantyre City.
Several traders and buyers go about their business, either unaware or indifferent to the ban on these carrier bags, which has been confirmed by a High Court verdict after a lengthy battle.
The government is pushing forward with regulations banning single-use plastics, but many consumers remain confused about the restrictions.
“I had no idea there was a ban. I still see plastic bags being handed out at checkouts, so I assumed they were still fine to use,” says shopper Mercy Msokera.
She admits to hearing about efforts to remove thin plastics from Malawi’s markets but not that the ban has been enforced.
Mercy has used these plastics for years and believes that getting the majority to abandon them will require more information being made available.
“Authorities and those enforcing the ban need to put up signs in marketplaces and spend more time on the radio spreading the message,” she says, stuffing vegetables into a thin plastic bag.
When asked if she is willing to stop using them now that she is aware of the latest developments, she reluctantly agrees, provided alternatives are available.
She is not alone.
Even small business owners are struggling to keep up with the changing regulations.
“As you can see, all shops are still handing out purchases in thin plastics,” says a shop owner at Manje.
He sells everything from flour and legumes to groceries, dairy products and carbonated drinks, all of which he typically hands to customers in small plastic bags.
He orders these plastics from various wholesalers in Limbe Business Centre, which he reveals is still full of bulk sellers.
According to the regulations, which ban plastics under 60 microns, manufacturers, sellers and users are all affected.
“Of course, we all have a part to play, but I think it should start with the big manufacturers stopping production. That way, the plastics will reach trading centres and will end up in people’s homes,” says the businessman.
Despite the ban, many small vendors continue to offer thin plastics, claiming they are unaware of the development or have no alternatives, as wholesalers still supply the bags.
Shop owner Moses Ndimbwa says he is open to alternatives if they become more accessible.
“If there were alternatives that were affordable and as convenient as these plastics, I would definitely stop using them,” he says.
Other vendors share Ndimbwa’s views, acknowledging the environmental concerns but hesitating to stop using thin plastics without viable replacements.
Recently, during an inspection by officials from the Malawi Environmental Protection Authority (Mepa), a firm was found in violation of the ban.
Workers at the company were allegedly caught wrapping goods in thin plastic, contrary to the regulations.
“This is a direct violation of the ban on single-use plastics. We have issued a shutdown order until they fix the issue,” said Mepa Director General Wildred Kadewa.
Many consumers, especially those who rely on thin plastics for everyday convenience, continue to argue that there are no viable alternatives.
At local markets and shops, demand for the materials persists, with many users claiming switching to other materials is simply impractical.
“Plastic is just easier—it is cheap and readily available. If there were a choice, I would use something else, but the alternatives don’t work for me,” says Jessie Makala, a resident of Mzuzu City.
Similar sentiments are expressed by others, who say they do not know where to get alternatives.
They are willing to support the move for Malawi to be free from plastic pollution but insist it depends on alternatives being available.
However, environmental advocates like Herbet Mwalukomo argue that such claims are more about convenience than necessity.
Mwalukomo, executive director of the Centre for Environmental Policy and Advocacy, insists alternatives are already available but that many people are simply reluctant to embrace them.
“The more we buy them, the more they will be available, as it will make business sense to producers and suppliers,” he says.
The environmentalist also urges the government to incentivise the production of alternative materials, such as paper bags, by reducing import duties on production materials.
He also believes that with more awareness, the ban will eventually be fully embraced, given that the courts have confirmed the law’s validity.
“Based on the public reaction to the court decision, it is encouraging that many Malawians are aware of the need for a transition to sustainable alternatives.
“Some Malawians have travelled to countries like Tanzania, Mozambique, Uganda, Ethiopia and Kenya, where you don’t see thin plastics scattered all over like you do here,” Mwalukomo says.
In the meantime, the gap between what consumers say they need and what environmentalists know is possible remains wide, with both sides pointing to different solutions to the plastic problem.
In Mzuzu, one shopper has already embraced the ban, viewing it as a necessary step towards a cleaner, more sustainable future.
Agnes Banda, a regular at the city’s bustling produce market, shares her positive outlook on the ban and the change it represents.
“I welcome the ban completely,” she says on a Times Television programme, pulling out her cloth bag to carry her groceries.
“I have been using this bag for months now and it works perfectly. It is sturdy, spacious and I can keep using it for a long time.”
Agnes believes the key to successfully implementing the ban is changing people’s mindset—it is about getting used to new habits.
She admits she was not sure she would manage without plastic before using her cloth bag a few times, but it showed her that it is a significant convenience.
“We have to stop thinking of plastic as the only option,” she says, her voice filled with conviction.
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