File photo shows residents of Mirera Estate going about a cleanup exercise near Lake Naivasha, Kenya, Aug. 21, 2017. The country effecutated the ban on plastic bags in 2017. (Xinhua/Robert Manyara)

LUSAKA, Feb. 20 (Xinhua) -- Zambia's environmental regulator said Monday that it has no intentions of banning the use of plastics like some other African countries.

There have been calls from environmental campaigners for Zambia to emulate other African countries that have banned the use of plastics in order to protect the environment.

But Zambia Environmental Management Agency (ZEMA) director John Simuko said the government will not ban the use of plastics either for packaging or other purposes as this may affect the recycling industry in the country.

He said the regulator will instead put in place measures to ensure proper use and disposal of plastics.

The recycling industry, he said, has provided both direct and indirect jobs, according to state broadcaster the Zambia National Broadcasting Corporation.