A Nationwide Campaign Against The Use Of Single-Use Plastic Products Has Been Launched

During a virtual ceremony held on Sunday, a national campaign against the use single-use plastic products – Plastic Aa Nulaa – has been launched officially by the Minister of Environment, Dr. Hussain Rasheed Hassan. The campaign is a multi-sectorial awareness campaign which falls in line with current administration’s efforts to find a solution to for the single-use plastic products in the country. It will be carried out collaboratively with other government authorities and civil associations.  

At the launching event, a policy presentation was presented by the Environment Ministry which outlines work which is currently being carried out under the ‘single-use plastic phase-out’ plan in addition to what work that will be done in the future. Apart from this, the logo of the ‘Plastic Aa Nulaa’ campaign was unveiled as well and the ‘single-use plastic phase-out’ plan was showcased.  

Through different types of events, the campaign targets to educated the public on actions that can be taken to put the single-use plastic phase-out plan in motion such as changes that will be brought through the law to altering lifestyle to reduce the use of single-use plastic by using alternatives.  

Under the ‘single-use plastic phase-out’ plan the import following single-use plastics will be banned starting from 1st June.  
- Plastic drinking straw  
- Single-use plastic-based plates, cutleries & stirrers  
- Styrofoam lunch box  
- Plastic shopping bags below 30x30cm (including oxo-degradable and synthetic polymer based biodegradable plastics)  
- Imported sweet areca nuts in plastic wrapping  
- Single-use plastic cups below 250ml  
- Cotton buds with plastic stems  
- Shampoo and soap bottles in plastic packaging that are 50ml and below  
- All imported beverages in PET bottles below 500ml (water, carbonated, and non-carbonated drinks)  

In addition to this, from 1st December 2022, plastic shopping bags which are below 50-micron thickness (including oxo-degradable and synthetic polymer based biodegradable plastics) & shampoo and soap bottles in plastic packating from 50ml to 200ml will also be banned. Furthermore, from 1st December 2023, all imported water bottles packed in P.E.T packaging which are 1 liter and below will be banned as well.  

Photo: Zero Waste Maldives