Page 42 - Plastics News March 2019

INTERNATIONAL NEWS

Barbados bans Plastics despite complaints

he April 1 deadline for the importation, wholesale and alternative products.“The fact is that Barbadians are not
Tretail of petro-based plastics remains in place, and going to stop using cups, plates and bowls; they just will
government will be closely monitoring the prices being not be using the petro-based ones. So, there will still be
charged for alternative products. Minister of Maritime a market for all the things that they import; it will just
Affairs and the Blue Economy, Kirk Humphrey made that be a different quality product,” Minister Humphrey said.
clear, amid complaints that businesses did not have enough

Taiwan introduces one of the
world’s most comprehensive

plastic bans

aiwan aims to be
Tcompletely free
of plastic bags and
all single-use plastic
items, such as utensils
and beverage cups,
time to prepare.However, he expressed concern for by 2030. But first, the
vendors who purchased petro-based single-use plastics and straws. Starting this
Styrofoam plates at discounted prices from large suppliers
without fully understanding that they would be unable year, chain restaurants
to use them after April 1. “Perhaps we need to have a will be restricted
conversation around how do we accommodate them after from giving straws to
April 1st. We extended the moratorium on plastic bags customers for in-store
for a whole year, because I never wanted to affect local use. Environmental Protection Administration (EPA)
manufacturers and people who are on the street trying Minister Ying-Yuan Lee said, ”We aim to implement
to make a dollar. “Perhaps that is a conversation that we a blanket ban by 2030 to significantly reduce plastic
are going to have to see how best we can accommodate waste that pollutes the ocean and also gets into the
them – can we find a way through the other agencies of food chain to affect human health.” Aspects of Taiwan’s
government to help them deal with the loss, or do we give new program will be phased in over the next decade.
them a little more time – just that very small group?” the Retail stores will face fines for giving customers
Minister said. However, Humphrey was firm in his resolve disposable food containers, utensils and plastic bags
that the importation, wholesale and retail of petro-based in 2020. By 2025, those fees will increase. As for
single-use products and Styrofoam from April 1 would not straws, the new policy will first affect in-store diners,
be allowed, unless he said differently.He acknowledged then later extend to carry-out. By 2030, the straw
that the law did not speak to people who had Styrofoam ban should be complete throughout Taiwan. Taiwan’s
and single-use plastics in their personal possession, but new plastic policy is among the farthest-reaching in
urged persons to recognise the purpose behind what the world, though other countries are also stepping
government was doing and join in the effort. up the war against plastic waste. A 2018 policy to
severely decrease plastic bag use in Taiwan met great
Humphrey also told members of the media that
government had met with wholesalers and retailers from success. Starting January 1 of last year, businesses
the beginning nd had even made adjustments to allow like pharmacies, bakeries and beverage shops could
them to get rid of existing stock. He added that most no longer offer customers free plastic bags. Follow-up
large-scale wholesalers were fully aware of government’s research indicated that 70 percent of customers chose
position on the matter, and had already started importing to forego buying plastic bags.

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