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Today, the public education campaign to ban plastics was launched.  Now, with about a month to go before the legislation is introduced, you might say it’s a little late.

But, better late than never,  and the Department Of Environment’s CEO explained how the plastics task force came up with a Plastic Free Belize campaign:…

Percival Cho - CEO Ministry of Environment
"The plastic task force that was set up last year by cabinet thought it necessary to embark on a public educational campaign for the country. To do that, we decided to set up a subgroup, a subcommittee of the task force, involving NGOs, civil society groups and others, to work towards developing a common message and to agree that all organizations who want to say something about the phase-out to be able to say it using one voice, one message. The message is clear, we need to phase-out and rid ourselves of certain plastic products. That is at the basic element of the message, that is what is there, and to start to instil in the public the need to maybe look at how we attach ourselves to these things and how potentially we cannot use them and reduce our dependency on these items. We do have a few timelines built into the execution of the legislation which has to do with, first of all, a ban on the importation. So, we are no longer going to import these particular products in order to protect the environment; and there is a specific date on that. Followed by a phase-out of the local production, which is a bit later on. We do produce some of these items locally. And then, of course, possession or use of it, a little bit later on will, of course, be completely phase-out."

Reporter
"The biodegradable importers right now, what they are saying is that when you look at the  cost of biodegradables compared to the plastics and Styrofoam, it is way more expensive. When they are bringing it into the country, they are even paying more duties than the persons who are bringing in these products. Is there anything that the legislation looks at in terms of an incentive for these importers of these biodegradables?"

Percival Cho
"We have cleared up that issue some time ago. We had a discussion with Customs and Ministry of Finance on it. Looking at the legislation, and there is a web of it in relation to importation of these things, there is the conclusion that we came to that both biodegradable and Styrofoam and plastics are zero-rated. And, obviously there is some confusion at the point of importation."

Reporter
"So, zero-rated, what those that mean for importers of biodegradables?"

Percival Cho
"As far as we know, the biodegradables, they fall under the category of plastics and that category is already zero-rated."

Reporter
"So, they pay the same duties essentially you are saying?"

Percival Cho
"They should be but what we have heard- and I think you've heard the same- is that some of them are, at the point of importation, probably are not classifying these products in the right category to take advantage of those incentives." 

Again, the ban does not include all plastics; it only covers clamshells, plates, cups, forks spoons, plastic bags for which there are alternatives. The specific date for the ban to go into effect has not been finalized.