🌍 Cayman Islands government moves to ban single-use plastics

The Cayman Islands Government is taking steps to amend customs legislation, aiming to ban the importation of several types of single-use plastic. Items expected to be included in the prohibition list include small plastic grocery bags, plastic straws, stir sticks, chopsticks, sky lanterns, and polystyrene cups and food containers. The push to ban single-use plastic has been largely driven by the non-profit group Plastic Free Cayman, which has removed tens of thousands of pounds of plastic from Cayman’s beaches over the past seven years. 🏝️

Despite this progress, the government has chosen not to ban plastic party balloons and their sticks due to a lack of sustainable alternatives. These items are particularly damaging to the marine environment. The Minister of Sustainability and Climate Resiliency, Katherine Ebanks-Wilks, highlighted that the proposal represents a significant step in the effort to protect the environment. She added that banning the importation of these items is a proactive measure to safeguard the Cayman Islands' natural resources and boost its resilience. 🐠

While restricting single-use plastics is a key part of reducing their environmental impact, proper waste disposal is also crucial. However, attempts to address the Cayman Islands' looming garbage crisis remain stalled. Residents can only recycle a limited number of plastics, and many single-use items that cannot be recycled are not on the banned list. The government has emphasized its commitment to advancing environmental conservation efforts, but there is little evidence of any serious attempts to implement genuinely sustainable policies. 🗑️