The government of Jamaica intends to impose a ban on single-use plastic bags:

Jamaicans will soon be banned from packing groceries and other goods in single-use plastic bags.

Speaking in the sectoral debate in the House of Representatives on Tuesday, Minister without portfolio in the Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation Daryl Vaz said the Government will be prohibiting single-use plastic bags in the retail trade.

This means Jamaicans will need to use reusable bags when they go to the supermarket or wholesale.

Mr. Vaz said the action on so-called ‘scandal bags’ will be coming soon. In his speech sent to the media, he noted that these single-use plastic bags are not recyclable and have no value beyond their use. But he said they result in a cost to the broader society each time they are used.

He said specific regulations will be put in place for garbage bags which will include sizes which will be allowed and the mandatory use of the enzymes which make plastics degradable.

Read more in the full article.

Previously on Green Antilles: Reducing plastic bag use in Jamaica: ban or fee?

[Image: Mitchell Haindfield]