Exam practice 2
Rwanda: a country without plastic bags
A In 2008, Rwanda, a small nation in the east of
Africa, made a brave decision to tackle the problem
of non-biodegradable plastic bags. Most other
countries know that the issue needs to be
addressed, but are too scared to do anything
radical in case it has a negative effect on
businesses and the economy. Rwanda, however,
decided to ban plastic bags altogether. Bangladesh
was the first country to do this back in 2002, but the
results there have been limited. In Rwanda,
however, the ban really does seem to be working.
B Litter is a huge problem in many African
countries today. Living standards have risen so
much that millions of people can now afford to buy
supermarket food, which is often packaged in
plastic. However, the standards of rubbish disposal
services have not kept up with rising living
standards and the results are often very visible in
the streets – drains are filled with litter, toxic fumes
are given off from burning plastic, and animals
choke to death on plastic bags. Rwanda, however,
is noticeably cleaner than its neighbouring
countries. Dr Rose Mukankomeje, Director-General
of the Rwanda Environment Management Authority,
says that travellers often comment that Kigali (the
capital of Rwanda) is not only one of the cleanest
cities in Africa, but it’s also one of the most
unpolluted capital cities in the whole world. Some
people have even compared it to immaculate cities
such as Basel or Zurich in Switzerland.
C So how did Rwanda succeed where most
developed countries are still falling short? The
government found a way to make the ban help,
rather than damage, the economy. Tax incentives
were used to encourage companies that had
previously manufactured plastic bags to start
recycling them. The ban also created a new market
for environmentally-friendly bags that hadn’t existed
before. In addition, the Rwandan people help to
keep their own country clean. They have a policy of
umuganda, which refers to one day of community
work a month, which every Rwandan between the
ages of 18 and 65 who is able to work must do.
People over the age of 65 are also encouraged to
participate if they can. It usually takes place on the
last Saturday of each month, when people get
together to do community work.
D The ban on plastic bags is just one part of
Rwanda’s forward-thinking attitude. Paul Kagame,
the country’s president, is leading the Rwanda
Vision 2020 plan. This is aiming to turn the country
into a sustainable middle-income nation by the end
of the decade.
2  PHOTOCOPIABLE © OXFORD UNIVERSITY PRESS
Reading
1 Choose the correct answers.
1 The first country to impose a ban on plastic bags was …
A Rwanda.
B Bangladesh.
C Switzerland.
2 The Rwandan government found a way to …
A manage plastic waste.
B make a plastic bag ban good for the economy.
C put plastic bag manufacturers out of business.
3 Umuganda is …
A a policy where tax incentives were given to companies to
recycle plastic.
B a new market for environmentally friendly bags.
C community service that has to be done by most Rwandans.
2 Answer the questions according to information given
in the text. Use your own words and full sentences.
1 Why haven’t all countries banned plastic bags?
............................................................................................
2 Why is litter a more serious problem than it used to be in many
African countries?
............................................................................................
3 How do the Rwandan people help to keep their country clean?
............................................................................................
4 What are Rwanda’s ambitions for the future?
............................................................................................
Use of English
3 Complete the sentences. The meaning should be the
same as that of the sentence above.
1 Toxic fumes are given off from burning plastic.
Burning plastic ………………… toxic fumes.
2 Bangladesh banned plastic bags in 2002.
Plastic bags have ………………… in Bangladesh since 2002.
3 People over 65 are also encouraged to participate if they can.
People over 65 are also encouraged ………………… part if
they can.
4 Circle the word that is the odd one out in each group.
1 brave / scared / bold / courageous
2 toxic / clean / unpolluted / immaculate
3 difficulty / problem / issue / future
4 rubbish / litter / facilities / waste
Writing
5 Choose one of the tasks. Write 120–150 words.
1 You are worried about the number of plastic bags currently being
produced. Write a formal email to the environment minister of
your country to suggest ways that they could tackle the problem.
2 Write an opinion essay with the following title: ‘It is the
responsibility of developed countries to do more to protect the
environment.’