St. Kitts & Nevis moves to ban single-use plastics

The St. Kitts & Nevis government is moving to ban single-use plastics, implementing a three-phase structure that will affect the importation, sale, and distribution of several items.

The twin-island nation’s Environment, Climate Action and Constituency Empowerment Minister, Joyelle Clarke, told parliament that the first phase involves the ban on importation of T-shirt plastic shopping bags as of December 31, 2024. She said this will be followed by a ban on the sale and distribution of these bags by March 31, 2025.

Under the second phase, there will be a ban on the importation of Styrofoam food containers and plastic straws effective April 30, 2025.

The government said that the sale and distribution of the same items will be banned as of July 31, 2025.

The final phase involves banning the importation of single-use plastic cups, plastic plates, and plastic utensils as of August 31, 2025, followed by a ban on the sale and distribution of the same products as of November 30, 2025.

Clarke told legislators that the ban on single-use plastics is a “decisive step” towards the government’s unwavering commitment to protecting the natural environment and towards fostering a sustainable future for St. Kitts & Nevis.

The single-use plastic ban is also part of the government’s commitment towards becoming a Sustainable Island State (SIS) and which aligns with several of the United Nations’ Global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), ranging from good health and well-being to climate action.

“The ban will serve to regulate the importation, sale and distribution of single-use plastics until the pending Environmental Protection Bill 2024 shortly titled Restriction on Single-Use-Plastic Bill, is passed,” a government statement added.

It said that the twin-island federation will now join over 100 countries including at least 12 in the Caribbean, like Antigua & Barbuda, Barbados and the Turks & Caicos Islands, to now have a full or partial ban on single-use plastics. -(CMC)