(CMR) The Cayman Islands Cabinet recently approved further drafting instructions for amendments to the Customs Tariff Act (2023 revision), demonstrating progress in the ongoing effort to reduce single-use plastics (SUPs) across our Islands.
The Ministry of Border Control, Labour, and Culture, in consultation with the Ministry of Sustainability and Climate Resiliency, will now begin the process of amending the Customs Tariff Act to remove the prohibited single-use plastics (SUPs) from the tariff list. It will also continue with draft instructions to amend the Customs and Border Control (Prohibited Goods) Order (2023 Revision) to classify the selected SUPs as prohibited.
The current list of prohibited SUPs includes;
-small plastic grocery check-out bags;
-plastic straws;
-plastic stir sticks;
-polystyrene cups;
-plastic chopsticks;
-sky lanterns; and
-polystyrene clamshell food containers.
Last year, the Government announced plans to restrict a number of single-use plastic items through a Prohibition Order. After further consideration, the Government determined that restricting the items through a legislative change to the Customs Tariff Act would be a more effective methodology. The original list of Cabinet-approved prohibited items was also reconsidered by the Ministry of Border Control, Labour, and Culture, and plastic party balloons and their sticks were removed due to the current lack of sustainable alternatives for these items.
Minister of Sustainability and Climate Resiliency, Hon. Katherine Ebanks-Wilks, said, “Receiving Cabinet approval to draft the amendments is a significant step forward in our efforts to protect the environment and promote sustainability.”
The Minister continued, “The single-use plastic items we have identified are significant contributors to plastic pollution and environmental degradation globally, and although many of these items wash onto our shores as trash from other jurisdictions, by banning their importation, we are proactively safeguarding our natural resources and prioritizing the resilience of the Cayman Islands.”
However, restricting single-use plastics is just a part of reducing their environmental impact, proper waste disposal is crucial for fostering cleaner, greener communities. Residents are encouraged to check the Department of Environmental Health’s website for information on correct waste disposal and recycling opportunities. The Cayman Islands Government remains dedicated to advancing environmental conservation efforts forward to continued collaboration with stakeholders to achieve shared sustainability goals.
“We cannot advocate for the health of the nation without talking about environmental health, and we cannot talk about environmental health without confronting the reality of the trash that we generate. By now, we all know that the space within our landfill is finite. The single-use plastic ban is one solution which the Government is looking at to deal with our collective waste, and our success as a nation is equally- if not more- dependent on individual behaviors and practices around reducing, reusing, and recycling,” explained Minister for Health & Wellness, Hon. Sabrina Turner,
“Will this require us, as individuals, to make changes that may feel much less convenient at times? Absolutely. But when it comes to fighting to protect the things and people that we love, inconvenience is not even a thought, much less a deterrence. Let us all continue to work together towards the same goal of protecting Cayman now and in the future,” she added.
Businesses with questions or feedback may contact the Ministry of Sustainability and Climate Resiliency via [email protected].