From Turks & Caicos Weekly News

By Delana Isles 

A LEGAL notice banning Styrofoam and plastic straws has been presented in the House of Assembly for passage. 

It is named the Plastic and Other Single Use Products (Use and Waste Management) (Expanded Polystyrene Foam) Regulations 2019.

The regulations are intended to further guide the enactment of the principle ordinance, and as such it sets out penalties for failure to comply, among other things.

The document follows the passage of the Plastic and Other Single Use Products (Use and Waste Management) Ordinance, passed earlier in 2019. 

With this new regulation, the Government is seeking the prohibition of other similar single use products. 

The new document states that a person shall not stock, distribute or sell the following other similar single use products in the Islands: expanded polystyrene foam single use food service containers and plastic straws. 

Anyone who contravenes the above proposed law commits an offence and is liable on conviction to a fine of $5,000 or to imprisonment for six months or to both. 

The regulation further places certain restrictions on vendors, namely: any vendor who packages or serves prepared food or beverages, shall from the effective date not serve or provide food or beverages in other similar single use product for consumption on or off his premises. 

Vendors who contravene this proposed law commits an offence and is liable on conviction to a fine of $20,000 or to imprisonment for one year or both. 

If any vendor is convicted of this office three times, the Supreme Court may on the third conviction, and on an application by or on behalf of the Chief Environmental Health Officer, order that the business licence of the person be revoked. 

There are however, some exemptions to the proposed regulations as it relates to Styrofoam.

These are foam trays for uncooked meats; food prepared or packaged outside of the Islands, and packing materials which have been collected for reuse. 

Notably, nothing in the regulations prevents a retailer from charging for an alternative or other similar single use product. 

Alternative other similar single use products include uncoated paper, coated paper, cardboard, aluminium foil, compostable products, biodegradable products and recyclable products.

The regulations are set for debate and passage in the next sitting of the House of Assembly.

For more on this story go to: https://tcweeklynews.com/govt-moves-to-ban-styrofoam-and-plastic-straws-p10189-127.htm