12 St James businesses charged for plastic ban breaches

Attention: All News Editors 

Kingston, Jamaica                                                         

(4 October 2022):

12 St James businesses charged for plastic ban breaches

Twelve businesses in St James have been charged by the Natural Resources Conservation Authority/National Environment and Planning Agency (NRCA/NEPA) for breaches under the the Natural Resources Conservation Authority (Plastic Packaging Materials Prohibition) Order, 2018. The matters will be heard in the St. James Parish Court on Wednesday, 5 October 2022.

The charges were  brought because on varying  days in  September 2022, the businesses were observed in possession of commercial quantities of drinking straws attached to juice or drink boxes and single-use plastic bags made wholly or in part of polyethylene or polypropylene plastic with  dimensions  24x24 inches, with thickness less than 2.5 mils.

Morjorn  Wallock, Director, Legal and  Enforcement, NEPA explained that “the  charges are coming out of Operation Restore  Paradise, a   collaborative  effort amongst several  government  partners to  include  the Jamaica Constabulary Force. She says, “ NEPA remains  strident in  its efforts  to  increase  compliance  with the  ban on some single-use  plastics  and  other environmental and planning laws.”

Single-use items remain banned

The public is being reminded that under the the Natural Resources Conservation Authority (Plastic Packaging Materials) Prohibition Order, it is an offence to import, distribute or use single-use plastic bags with dimensions not exceeding 24 x24 inches and 2.5 mils in thickness. The partial ban on single-use plastics also extends to plastic drinking straws, plastic straws affixed to box juices and drink pouches and the importation, manufacture, distribution, and use of expanded polystyrene foam products. If one is found guilty for breaching the Order, they may be fined up to $50,000 and/or a term of imprisonment.

Breaches involving importation of single plastics will be prosecuted under the Trade (Plastic Packaging Materials Prohibition) Order and if found guilty, the Court may impose a maximum fine of $2 million and/or a term of imprisonment.

The public can report breaches to the Agency at 876-754-7540 or call the toll-free hotline at 888-991-9005 or by emailing policyonplasticsban@nepa.gov.jm.

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Public Education and Corporate Communication Branch (PECCB)

National Environment and Planning Agency

Tel: 876-754-7540, ext. 2761;

Email: shahri.miller@nepa.gov.jm

Website: www.nepa.gov.jm