The National Environment and Planning Agency (NEPA) is calling on Jamaicans to end the practice of burning garbage and agricultural waste, warning that it poses serious risks to public health, the environment, and future generations. Speaking at a Jamaica Information Service (JIS) Think Tank, on Wednesday (August 13), Manager for NEPA’s Air Quality Management Branch, Jody-Ann Marston, stressed that reducing...

Mayor of Montego Bay, Councillor Richard Vernon, says two new Safe Food Zones are being established to formalise and upgrade food vending in the city. This is being done under the St. James Municipal Corporation’s MoBay STEP UP (Montego Bay Striving Towards Environmental Protection Urban Preservation) Programme. The initiative, launched in 2024, addresses environmental issues and enhances urban public order...

Scores of residents, shoppers and passersby in downtown Kingston were encouraged to “refuse, reduce, reuse and recycle” plastics as the Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation (MEGJC) hosted its Plastic Free Summer: Downtown Roadshow. The one-day event, held at the St. William Grant Park on Thursday (July 31), was a Local Education Drive (LED) staged as part of the...

Jamaica’s plastic recycling effort continues to gain momentum, with the country now achieving a recovery rate of more than 40 per cent for polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and high-density polyethylene (HDPE) plastic bottles, according to figures from Recycling Partners of Jamaica (RPJ). This progress, says Director for Environmental Management and Conservation at the National Environment and Planning Agency (NEPA), Anthony McKenzie,...

As concerns grow globally about the impact of plastics on human health and the environment, Jamaicans are being strongly encouraged to avoid burning plastics, and to make more informed consumer choices by selecting products free of microplastics. This call comes as the Government enters the final phase of its single-use plastic ban, which now includes personal care and cosmetic products...

The National Environment and Planning Agency (NEPA) is reaffirming its commitment to enforcement and public engagement as Jamaica enters the final phase of its national single-use plastic ban, which became effective in July 2025. Speaking at a recent JIS Think Tank, Director for Environmental Management and Conservation at NEPA, Anthony McKenzie, provided an update on the Agency’s enforcement record, shared...

With Jamaica now in Phase Four of its national single-use plastic ban, consumers are being urged to play a more active role in driving the shift toward environmentally friendly alternatives. The call came from Chief Technical Director (CTD) for Development Planning, Environment Policy and Management in the Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation, Gillian Guthrie, during her participation in...