The First Phase of Import Ban on Single Use Plastic Items Starts Tomorrow

The Single-Use Plastic Phaseout Plan for 2023 was announced by President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih on December 30 of last year. Set to roll-out in three strategic stages, the first set of single use items that are being banned from import starting from tomorrow, June 1, 2021 are as follows: 

 
These items are those that have been globally identified as some of the most persistent and common forms of plastic pollution. Even though they are everyday use items, they can be found discarded thoughtlessly on ocean floors to the roadsides, causing practically irreversible changes to the environment.  
 
The announcement of import ban of these items was made six months ahead of the initial implication date. It was a golden opportunity for SMEs to explore alternative environment-friendly products that can be introduced to the market in the meantime. Given the pandemic situation, the Ministry of Economy has announced that considering the challenges in global shipping and import means, packages will be allowed to clear through Maldives Customs if the First Carrier Airway Bill or the Bill of Lading was issued before June 1, 2021 and packages were loaded on for transport by then.
 
Simple lifestyle changes, however, can help us adapt to a more sustainable future. We have listed below a collection of solutions from Zero Waste Maldives that can be used instead of the single-use items that are being banned. The suggestions are aimed to advocate a Zero Waste lifestyle, focusing on replacing a waste stream with a sustainable option.  

The second phase of plastic ban is dated for December 1, 2022. During this time, we encourage every individual to take small steps in replacing one single-use item at a time, and adjusting to a more sustainable lifestyle to ensure a safer environment for our future generations.