HAMILTON, Bermuda (CMC) —  The Bermudian Government has tabled legislation to establish the legal framework for Bermuda’s transition away from the most harmful single-use plastics through consultation, science and a phased, responsible approach.

Public Works and Environment Minister, Jache Adams, told legislators that for years, Bermudians have spoken passionately about the need to protect the island from the growing tide of plastic pollution.

He said that the Single-Use Plastics Act 2026, while not designed to ban every item overnight, creates the legislative structure needed to regulate single-use plastics effectively and sustainably.

“It empowers the Government to add items to a schedule only after consultation, only after listening to stakeholders and only after determining that alternatives are viable for both our environment and our economy.”

Adams said the Government is not rushing ahead with bans without first hearing from businesses, environmental organisations, students, seniors, and all those who interact with these products every day.

“Instead, this Bill lays the foundation on which we will build a careful, well-managed transition that works for the entire country,” he said, adding that he also wanted to address a concern that often arises whenever the words “single-use plastics” and “ban” appear in the same sentence.

“Let me be clear, this Bill does not impose an immediate, islandwide ban on all single-use plastics. That is not the intention, and it will not be the result.

“What we are setting in place is a gradual, phased programme, one that ensures businesses and consumers have time to adjust, the Government has time to inform and the country has time to shift behaviour responsibly.”

He noted, for example, that the consultation process identifies items such as plastic straws as an appropriate early candidate for restriction, but that this will only occur after Bermudians have been fully engaged and the timelines are clear and reasonable.

“Our goal is not disruption, our goal is progress,” Adams said, adding that Bermuda’s pristine beauty is not merely aesthetic, it is economic, environmental and deeply cultural.

“Our marine ecosystem is the foundation of our tourism industry, our fishing sector and the health of our people. Yet around the world, and yes, even here at home, plastic pollution threatens that foundation.

“Plastic does not disappear. It breaks down into microplastics that are now found in our water, our sand, our fish, and increasingly, in our bodies. This is not speculation; it is established science.”

Adams said that local environmental leaders have been sounding the alarm for years and that, “Keep Bermuda Beautiful has frequently reminded us that every piece of plastic ever created still exists somewhere in the environment.”

“Their decades of clean-up data demonstrate the growing presence of plastic fragments on our beaches, often originating from everyday convenience items that are used once and discarded.

“Similarly, the organisation Beyond Plastics Bermuda has stated publicly that tackling single-use plastics is essential for ‘preserving Bermuda’s environmental health for future generations.”

He said that these organisations have called for bold action from the Government and the community alike, “emphasising that the challenge is solvable if we approach it together”.

“Environmental protection should not be a partisan endeavour. It is a shared responsibility. If we cannot unite around protecting the waters that sustain us, then what can we unite around?

“This Bill is an opportunity for all of us, Government, Opposition and the people of Bermuda, to demonstrate that when it comes to safeguarding our environment, we can move as one,” Adams said, adding that the next step is an exhaustive and transparent consultation period.

“We will invite written submissions, host stakeholder meetings and explore the availability of practical alternatives. Just as important, we will work to ensure that environmentally friendly replacements are accessible and affordable.”