Group behind single-use plastics ban push says more work to be done

Plastic Free Cayman is welcoming an incoming ban on certain types of single-use plastics, and the group said more has to be done to deal with the pollution impacting local coastlines.

“We also need to draw attention to the fact that our islands need a national clean-up scheme,” the group, led by founder Claire Hughes, told the Cayman Compass Friday in a statement.

The group has been advocating for a ban on single-use plastics since 2017.

They welcomed the upcoming changes to block the import of six types of plastics, and said government should consider a multi-pronged approach to the problem.

“Our volunteers cannot keep up with the plastics that continue to overtake our shores due to waste entering the currents from other countries and cruise ships,” the statement said.

Government on Thursday announced that legal changes are being drafted to restrict the import of small grocery check-out bags, straws, stir sticks and chopsticks made of plastic, as well as sky lanterns, and cups and clamshell containers made of polystyrene.

Initially, plastic helium-filled balloons and their sticks were on the list, but they were dropped from the planned restriction “due to the current lack of sustainable alternatives for these items”.

The ban, the group said, is a step in the right direction, as Cayman joins 14 other Caribbean islands in efforts to mitigate plastic pollution.

National campaign needed

Plastic Free Cayman said that while it is essential government is working on key legislation to help curb plastic imports, “an education campaign and a national clean up scheme with proper funding would be a smart solutions-oriented approach”.

“Plastic Free Cayman would be more than willing to help with these efforts,” it added.

The group said it was delighted to see the progress on this issue, as it helps tackle the problem at the source.

The group commended the government for taking these steps, saying that its team has worked tirelessly over the past 8 years to advocate for change, while removing hundreds of thousands of pounds of trash from local beaches, helping to keep them clean.

“We are very proud of this upcoming milestone,” it said, adding that Plastic Free Cayman supports the Government’s decision to prohibit certain single-use items.

The group acknowledged that in 2020 the government came very close to having firm legislation in place, but the pandemic took priority and stalled many government initiatives.

“So, we are very happy to finally see some progress towards the ban. Although it is still unclear as to the timeline. We hope that Cabinet expedites the process, as thousands of students in Cayman have written government letters over the years pleading for this type of legislation,” it said.

Plastic Free Cayman pointed out that, as with past environmental initiatives such as the litter policy, enforcement is a key aspect to any piece of legislation.

It posed two questions regarding how the ban will be monitored: “Will there be a phasing out period?” and “What consequences (penalties/fines) will be issued for ignoring the ban?”

In addition to enforcement, it said some details are still unclear regarding the specifics of the ban, in particular whether “plant based plastics [will] remain, or does this include all types of ‘plastic’ for the items listed?

The group also asked why plastic cutlery isn’t on the list.