Twelve businesses in St James have been charged by the Natural Resources Conservation Authority/National Environment and Planning Agency (NRCA/NEPA) for breaches under the Natural Resources Conservation Authority (Plastic Packaging Materials Prohibition) Order, 2018.

In a statement on Tuesday (October 4), NEPA disclosed that the matters will be heard in the St. James Parish Court today.

The charges were brought because on varying days in September 2022, the businesses were observed in possession of commercial quantities of drinking straws attached to juice or drink boxes and single-use plastic bags made wholly or in part of polyethylene or polypropylene plastic with dimensions 24×24 inches, with thickness less than 2.5 millimetres.

Morjorn Wallock, director of legal and enforcement at NEPA explained that “the charges are coming out of Operation Restore Paradise, a collaborative effort amongst several government partners to include the Jamaica Constabulary Force”.

“NEPA remains strident in its efforts to increase compliance with the ban on some single-use plastics and other environmental and planning laws,” she added.

Single-use items remain banned

The public is being reminded that under the Natural Resources Conservation Authority (Plastic Packaging Materials) Prohibition Order, it is an offence to import, distribute or use single-use plastic bags with dimensions not exceeding 24 x24 inches and 2.5 millimetres in thickness.

The partial ban on single-use plastics also extends to plastic drinking straws, plastic straws affixed to box juices and drink pouches and the importation, manufacture, distribution, and use of expanded polystyrene foam products. If one is found guilty for breaching the order, they may be fined up to
J$50,000 and/or a term of imprisonment.

Breaches involving the importation of single plastics will be prosecuted under the Trade (Plastic Packaging Materials Prohibition) Order and if found guilty, the court may impose a maximum fine of J$2 million and/or a term of imprisonment.

The public is also being encouraged to report breaches to NEPA at 876-754-7540 or call the toll-free
hotline at 888-991-9005.