BY TONY IROGA
Businesses found selling banned single-use plastic products will face arrest and legal action as the government joint task force agency steps up enforcement of the country’s plastic ban regulations.
National Project Officer for the Waste Management and Pollution Control Unit, Joash Tuai in an interview with Island Sun on Monday said the government’s ban on specific single-use plastic products is now fully operational and being actively enforced across the country.
“The Single-Use Plastic Ban Regulations are fully in force, and we will not tolerate businesses that continue to sell illegal plastic products,” Mr Tuai said.
The warning follows a two-day joint enforcement operation recently carried out in Honiara by a multi-agency task force comprising officers from the Environment and Conservation Division, Honiara City Council Law Enforcement Unit, Customs Office, Royal Solomon Islands Police Force (RSIPF), Solomon Islands Maritime Authority (SIMA), and Solomon Islands Ports Authority (SIPA).
The operation targeted businesses in the eastern, central, and western parts of Honiara and resulted in the confiscation of banned plastic products from several outlets which were allegedly still selling the prohibited item.
Mr Tuai said reports from the operation will be forwarded to police, with arrests expected to take place this week.
“Businesses found breaching the regulations will be referred to police, and arrests may be made at any time,” he said.
The enforcement team discovered businesses selling banned plastic cutlery, including plastic spoons, which is a violation of the Environment Act and the Single-Use Plastic Ban Regulations 2023.
“We will continue our monitoring and enforcement activities. Any business found violating the regulations may face penalties under the law,” Mr Tuai added.
Under the regulations, the importation, manufacture, sale, and distribution of five categories of plastic products are prohibited.
These include plastic shopping bags, plastic straws, polystyrene foam food containers, cups and plates, plastic cutlery and food containers, and PET plastic drinking bottles smaller than 1.5 litres.
Tuai urges all businesses to comply with the regulations to help reduce plastic pollution and protect the environment.
“We appeal for the support of the public, the private sector and all stakeholders to implement this regulation,” Mr Tuai said.
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