KINGSTON, Jamaica – The National Environment and Planning Agency (NEPA) says it is currently conducting an enforcement drive in South Central Jamaica for breaches of the ban on plastic packaging materials.

NEPA said that today two companies were served and will appear before the Manchester Parish Court in the coming weeks.

“NEPA is keen on getting compliance in this area. The consequence of failure is too grave for our country, as we work to preserve the environment. We will be extending the enforcement drive to Western Jamaica in the coming week,” Philip Cross, NEPA Acting Manager, Enforcement Branch, said in a release.

 “The Agency had been issuing warning notices to entities in breach with the hope they would desist from flouting the Order.  However, this has not been successful and we are forced to resort to criminal prosecution as a deterrent,” he added.

NEPA is reminding the public that it is an offence to import, manufacture, distribute or use single-use plastic bags of dimensions not exceeding 24×24 inches and 1.2 mil in thickness; and plastic drinking straws.

The importation of expanded polystyrene foam products used in the food and beverage industry is also prohibited. If convicted, offenders may be fined up to $2 million or face a term of two years imprisonment, NEPA said.