Jamaican Government will ban single-use plastics, straws and Styrofoam containers as from January 1, 2019; Including importation, manufacture and distribution and use of all single-use plastic carrier bags. Summary of the measures:
- Plastic straws will be banned.
- Exceptions will be made for people who require plastic straws due to a physical disability.
- Plastic straws attached to beverages will be banned effective January 1, 2021.
- Imported Styrofoam food and beverage containers will be banned effective January 1, 2019.
- Locally manufactured Styrofoam food and beverage containers will be banned as from January 1, 2020. Exemptions will be granted for public health and food safety standards, e.g. raw meat.
- Manufacturers and importers of shopping bags made of polyethylene must apply to the National Environment and Planning Agency (NEPA) for limited exemptions. These applications will be considered on a case-by-case basis for continued manufacture and importation no later than January 1, 2021.
- Manufacturers are being urged to produce paper-based and other environmentally friendly alternatives for the domestic market.
In the meantime, Agri and Industrial Packaging Limited, a leader in the industrial packaging industry in Jamaica for over 31 years, is introducing oxo-biodegradable plastic as a truly sustainable solution to the present challenge.
REFS
- Local packaging company introduces biodegradable plastic
- Plastics ban January 1, JET welcomes Gov’t’s announcement
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