Member of Parliament (MP) Sarah Wescot-Williams is not alone in her disappointment (see Monday paper) that government has yet to decide when the ban on single-use plastic bags and straws as well as Styrofoam containers will be enacted. Environmental organisations including St. Maarten Nature Foundation have been emphasising the urgent need to do so for quite a while.
After all, Parliament passed the law to go in effect on July 1, 2021. That was later amended to allow for a more feasible date, but it’s been more than 18 months since.
Prime Minister Silveria Jacobs did address the issue briefly during a recent press briefing, basically saying they were preparing for it together with stakeholders. She suggested persons and companies could nevertheless comply now, saying during the recent public consultation on a draft vision for Integrated Solid Waste Management that “we can all start to minimise our waste and use reusable shopping bags.”
The prime minister has a point, but lacking any real pressure in terms of a deadline it remains to be seen whether many heed her call, certainly among businesses. Let’s face it, otherwise the legislation would not be necessary.
Judging by the huge amounts of such trash regularly found while cleaning roadsides, beaches, etc., it very much is. Just the other day a plastic cup was flung out of a car while driving in front of this column’s author.
One can hardly believe someone would do that in this day and age, confirming the need for more information, education and awareness campaigns targeting the public already at a young age. But although even with a ban they may throw biodegradable cups on the street and it still looks bad, at least the negative impact won’t be as lasting.
The opposition MP’s request for an implementation plan is therefore on the mark. Setting targets provides clarity and prompts action.
Unambiguous rules help prevent any doubt and generally work best in case of strict enforcement.
