The exercise started this Wednesday in different parts of Gasabo and Nyarugenge districts.
In Gasabo district, three bakeries which were packaging bread in plastic bags were fined with Rwf300,000 each and plastic bags for small shops were confiscated.
REMA staff also took off some time to talk to shop owners about the effects of plastic bags on the environment in the short and long term.
A Remera-based trader, Diane Uwamahoro who was found with plastic bags said they are cheap in comparison to other packaging materials.
“I used to wholesale them at Rwf300 from Nyabugogo. We use them because they are cheap, but from today I will not use them again” she said.
The Environment Inspection Officer at REMA, Israel Dufatanye urged the public not to use plastic bags as they negatively affect the environment and human health.
He urged the public to use paper bags, emphasizing that those found in possession of plastics bags will be penalized.
Rwanda banned the use of plastic bags in 2005.
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