INFORMATION on plastic pollution provided by United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) should give all humans cause for great concern.

“Every day, the equivalent of 2,000 garbage trucks full of plastic are dumped into the world’s oceans, rivers, and lakes,” UNEP tells us.

Additionally, the UN says, “More than 430 million tons of plastic are produced each year, two-thirds of which is cast aside as waste after just one use.” And if the trend continues, “plastic waste will triple by 2060, with dire consequences for both ecosystems and human health”.

Essentially what UNEP is pointing out is that if mankind continues producing plastics at the current rate, and dumping them in the same manner, planet Earth could be awash with billions of tonnes of plastic trash by the middle of the century.

Locally we are well accustomed to the effects of plastic, having seen first-hand piles of such materials ‘uglifying’ our surroundings; clogging drains, gullies, etc, which in turn triggers flooding; provides breeding grounds for mosquito-borne diseases; as well as endangers fish and other life in the sea, rivers, and wetlands.

It is with that in mind that this newspaper applauds environmentally friendly measures taken by our leaders down the years.

We were especially pleased with the ban on single-use plastics implemented in 2019 which, looking back, has gone better than many expected.

That ban applied to the import, manufacture, distribution, and use, in commercial quantities, of single-use plastic bags of dimensions not exceeding 24”x 24” (610mm x 610mm), and thickness of 2.5 mils (0.06mm), as well as straws attached to or forming part of the packaging of juice boxes and drink pouches.

Following that, the Government moved to a ban on the distribution and use of single-use plastic food containers, allowing a six-month window for businesses to make adjustments in order to become compliant with the order.

The window expired on January 9, 2025. Therefore, the importation and use of food boxes made of polypropylene, or polylactic acid, or polyethylene — in whole or in part — are now prohibited.

Of significance is the fact that breach of the order is subject to a fine and/or possible imprisonment under the Natural Resources Conservation Authority (NRCA) Act.

Additionally, NRCA has reminded us that breaches involving the importation of single-use plastics will be prosecuted under the Trade (Plastic Packaging Materials Prohibition) Order, and that guilt, once proven, may result in “a maximum fine of $2 million and/or a term of imprisonment”.

It is commendable that the Government has so far implemented the ban without being unreasonable or draconian.

We expect a similar approach in relation to the next phase of the order that will, as of July 1, 2025, affect cosmetic care or personal care products to which plastic microbeads or microplastics have been intentionally added.

We hope that business operators and the public will do their part by following the rules, and that the Government will increase public education and awareness to encourage compliance.

For, as the UNEP and other experts have stated, “We cannot recycle our way out of the plastic pollution crisis.”