THE countdown is on as the grace period for the ban on Single Use Plastic will come to an end on March 1, 2024.
With only two weeks remaining, businesses and consumers must now prepare to comply with the new rules that prohibit the importation, manufacturing, distribution, supply, and sale of certain single-use plastic products in the country.
The government has granted a generous six-month grace period to allow businesses and consumers to adjust to the new regulations and deplete their existing stocks of plastic products.
The grace period started on September 1, 2023, and will conclude on March 1, 2024. After that, the government will enforce the ban in full and impose penalties for non-compliance.”
This is a crucial time for businesses and consumers to utilize the remaining grace period wisely and make the necessary preparations for the changes that lie ahead.
The plastic ban aims to significantly reduce the environmental impact of plastic pollution, particularly on our precious marine ecosystems and wildlife.
While the plastic ban presents a challenge, it also offers an opportunity for businesses and consumers to embrace more eco-friendly practices and products. By doing so, we can collectively contribute to the common goal of creating a cleaner and healthier Solomon Islands for everyone.
All these is part of a new Regulation to ban the import, manufacture, distribution and sale of certain single use plastics in the country. The Ministry of Environment Climate Change Disaster Management and Meteorology (MECDM) as the lead agency worked with relevant agencies within government as well as stakeholders from the private sector to successfully develop the Regulation and have it gazetted on 1st September 2023.
Meanwhile all enforcement agencies are now ready for its implantation after a Standard Operations Procedure (SoP) has been developed and finalised recently.
The government through the MECDM appeals to all stakeholders and good citizens to seize this moment to reconsider their relationship with plastic and embrace sustainable alternatives. Together, we can pave the way for a brighter, greener future.
SOURCE: Ministry of Environment Climate Change & Disaster Management