Saint Kitts and Nevis: Plastic Waste Reduction and Environmental Protection Act 2024

 

Saint Kitts and Nevis published a new Plastic Waste Reduction and Environmental Protection Act 2024.

The goal of the act is to control and restrict the importation and distribution of single use plastic items to reduce the significant environmental impact of single use plastics, including pollution of marine and terrestrial ecosystems, harm to wildlife, risks to human health and contribution to the overall waste management crisis by promoting sustainable alternatives and safeguarding our natural resources for future generations.

In accordance with the Act, the manufacture, importation, distribution, and sale of the single-use plastic items listed in the First Schedule are prohibited:

• T- shirt plastic bags
• Plastic straws
• Plastic stirrers
• Plastic cutlery (forks, knives, spoons)
• Plastic plates and cups
• Certain types of plastic packaging
• Styrofoam food containers
• Egg crates
• Food packaging
• Meat trays

Exceptions to these prohibitions and regulations may include:

1. Single-use plastic items necessary for medical and health-related purposes.
2. Specific industrial applications where no feasible alternatives exist, subject to approval by the Department of Environment (DOE).
3. Items required for national security or emergency situations.

The Act also contains packaging standards:

• Minimum 30% recycled content for plastic packaging. (Confirming the standards for biodegradables)
• Labeling standards for recyclable and compostable packaging.
• Compostable plastics meet ASTM D6400 or D6868 standards. (to be confirmed)
• American Public Health Association Standard Test Method 2540E, Fixed and Volatile Solids Ignited at 550°C
• American Public Health Association Standard Test Method 2540G, Total, Fixed, and Volatile Solids in Solid and Semisolid Samples
• AS 4736: 2006, Biodegradable plastic – Biodegradable plastic suitable for composting and other microbial treatment
• ASTM D6400, Standards Specification for Labeling of Plastic Designed to be Aerobically Composted in Municipal or Industrial Facilities
• ASTM D6866, Standard Test Methods For Determining The Biobased Content Of Solid, Liquid And Gaseous Samples Using Radiocarbon Analysis
• ASTM D6868, Standards Specification for Labeling of End Items that Incorporate Plastics and Polymers as Coatings or Additives with Paper and Other Substrates Designed to be Aerobically Composted on Municipal or Industrial Facilities.
• BS EN 13432: 2002, Packaging – Requirements for packaging recoverable through composting and biodegradation – Test scheme and evaluation criteria for the final acceptance of packaging
• CRS 55-2, Labelling of Commodities – Part 2: Labelling of prepackaged goods
• DD CEN/TS 16137, Plastic – Determination of bio-based carbon content
• ISO 16620-1:2015, Plastics — Biobased content — Part 1: General principles
• ISO 17088, Specifications for Compostable Plastics

To find out more about new environmental regulations and requirements for products worldwide, please contact the Product Compliance Institute directly.