President Pierre Nkurunziza issued a decree on Monday prohibiting the "manufacture, import, storage, sale and use of all plastic bags and other plastic packaging", according to a presidential order seen by the BBC.

It will come into effect in 18 months time, allowing for "the disposal of current stocks and orders already placed".

There could be some exemptions "for biodegradable plastic bags, bags and plastic materials used in medical services, and in industrial and pharmaceutical packaging", the decree read.

More than 40 countries around the world have banned plastic bags, including Morocco, Rwanda and Kenya.

According to a 2018 UN report, policies to combat plastic waste have had mixed results. In Cameroon, plastic bags are banned and households are paid for every kilo of plastic waste they collect, but still plastic bags are being smuggled in.