From the winding streets of Kathmandu's Thamel district to the bustling alleys of Nairobi's River Road, one persistent issue unites these cities over 6,000 kilometres apart: plastic bags.
Despite legislation, bans, and numerous public campaigns, thin, translucent polythene bags-mostly in shades of blue and black-continue to dominate daily life, packaging everything from groceries and snacks to fruit and takeout.
Whether handed over freely by street vendors or stuffed into sacks by shopkeepers, plastic bags remain stubbornly embedded in urban culture, a modern convenience that has morphed into an environmental menace.
What lies beneath the surface of both cities, however, is not just a pollution crisis-it is a systemic failure to shift behaviour, enforce policy, and prioritise sustainable alternatives.
