Plastic lunch box ban further delayed
Published:Thursday | July 11, 2024 | 12:12 AM
The ban on plastic lunch boxes, which after several missed implementation dates was set to kick in on July 1, has been postponed for a third time, with August 1 as the new target.
The Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation explained that the further extension is to “ensure smooth implementation … and to allow for better stakeholder engagement and public education”.
The ban is also extended to personal-care products with microplastic beads.
However, at least one importer of the product is peeved at the impact that the haphazard implementation is having on his business.
“I have customers calling me every day for plastic lunch boxes and I have no more. I ask if they want to buy paper and they say no, because only plastic is selling,” the business owner, who did want to be identified, told The Gleaner.
The ban was initially to be implemented on December 31, 2023, but was then pushed back to June 1, before being further delayed for an additional month. At the time, a statement from the ministry said that the additional month would allow it “to fine-tune administrative arrangements, facilitate further stakeholder engagement, and ramp up additional public education”.
But according to the importer, only one consultation session was held with the stakeholders on the ban.
“We have zero information except that the private sector has six months to use what’s in Jamaica,” he said.