The National Environment and Planning Agency (NEPA) will join the global community in commemorating International Plastic Bag-Free Day on Thursday, July 3, with a youth-focused outreach initiative aimed at promoting sustainable alternatives to single-use plastics.

As part of its public education efforts, representatives of NEPA will visit the Annie Dawson Home for Children in Kingston, where children will participate in a creative no-sew workshop, transforming old T-shirts into reusable cloth bags.

The session will also include discussions on the environmental harm caused by single-use plastic bags and the critical need for sustainable alternatives.

Environmental Management Systems Officer in NEPA’s Pollution Prevention Branch, Johnil Morgan, emphasised the significance of this global observance.

“To be held under the theme ‘Bag the Change—Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, Refuse’, International Plastic Bag-Free Day is a vital opportunity to increase public awareness of the harmful effects of plastics on the environment and promote alternatives that are reusable and environmentally friendly,” she told JIS News.

The outreach forms part of NEPA’s broader mission to reduce plastic pollution through sustained public education and the enforcement of environmental policies.

Morgan added that Jamaica’s efforts to reduce single-use plastic waste are guided by the Plastic Packaging Materials Prohibition Order, the latest iteration of which came into effect in 2024.

“[This Order] builds on previous legislative phases introduced in 2019, 2020, and 2021, and now prohibits a wide range of single-use plastic items, including plastic bags measuring 24×24 inches with a thickness of 2.5 mils or more, plastic drinking straws made from polyethylene or polypropylene, expanded polystyrene foam used in food containers (commonly referred to as Styrofoam), and cosmetic or personal-care products that contain microbeads,” she stated.

The NEPA Officer cautioned that plastic pollution poses long-term threats, including microplastic contamination, harm to marine life, and the blockage of drainage infrastructure.

“Many of these items are used for just five to 10 minutes, but take up to 1,000 years to breakdown. Once degraded, they become microplastics, contaminating our environment and food chain,” Morgan explained.

The next phase of the plastic ban, targeting cosmetic products containing microplastics, is scheduled to take effect on July 1, 2025.

Despite notable progress, enforcement of the plastic ban remains an ongoing challenge.

“NEPA has received reports of continued use of banned plastic items, particularly in downtown markets. In response, NEPA and its partners will be rolling out another round of public education and enforcement campaigns to raise awareness and ensure compliance,” Morgan shared.

The agency encourages all Jamaicans to take personal responsibility for reducing plastic waste.

Citizens are also urged to refuse single-use plastics where possible, embrace reusable alternatives such as cloth and paper bags, recycle appropriately, and get involved in local clean-up efforts.