Private Sector Given Six Months To Deplete Stock Of Single-use Plastic Food Containers

KINGSTON, June 7 (JIS):

The private sector will have six months from July 1 to deplete its existing stock of single-use plastic food containers on the domestic market, says Minister without Portfolio in the Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation, Senator the Hon. Matthew Samuda.

“All orders placed prior to July 1, 2024 can be landed; however, evidence of such orders must be presented to the relevant authorities,” he said.

Senator Samuda was speaking in the Upper House on Friday (June 7).

As of July 1, 2024, the importation, distribution, sale, or use of any single-use plastic food container made wholly or in part of polyethylene, polypropylene, or polylactic acid (PLA) will be prohibited. The ban excludes related transparent plastic lids until environmentally friendly alternatives become available.

Initially slated to take effect on June 1, the implementation period for the ban was extended in response to concerns from stakeholders and to fine-tune administrative arrangements, facilitate further stakeholder engagement and ramp up public education.

It is the fourth phase of the ban on the use of specific types of single-use plastic products as part of measures by the Government to safeguard human health and the environment.

Effective July 1, 2025, the ban will extend to personal care and cosmetic products containing intentionally added plastic microbeads or microplastics.

Senator Samuda noted that the National Environment and Planning Agency (NEPA), in collaboration with the Ministry of Economic Growth and Job creation, will be mounting a comprehensive national public education and awareness campaign to support implementation of the fourth phase of the ban.

He said the campaign is to ensure that “stakeholders can be clear on the types of products that will be regulated under this fourth phase, as well as to reinforce the objective of achieving a significant reduction and the ultimate elimination of plastic pollution, especially on the marine environment”.

“We ask for the continued support of our stakeholders in the private sector, civil society and the general public in safeguarding the health of the population and the environment from plastic waste,” he noted.

Minister Samuda informed that the Ministry and NEPA, in preparation for the fourth phase of the ban, undertook consultations with key stakeholders, including relevant ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) through the technical working group on single-use plastic products, as well as members of the private sector.

“It is my Ministry’s intention to continue to proactively engage all stakeholders, including the general public, to encourage their active participation in the decision-making process,” he told the Senate.

He said that while the phases of the ban have focused primarily on non-recyclable plastics, the Government recognises that “this is not the full scale of the problem”.

“The Government has acknowledged, further, that the issue of plastic waste requires a single policy, which guides all MDAs and, indeed, the public on the issue. In fact, your Government is taking a suite of measures to address plastic pollution,” he noted.