Single-use plastic products banned in the Solomon Islands!

The Solomon Islands is taking a significant step towards environmental preservation by announcing a comprehensive ban on single-use plastic products. Starting from September 1, the regulation will prohibit the import, manufacture, distribution, and sale of various plastic items in the country.

This initiative is part of the government’s commitment to hosting a “Safe and Green” Pacific Games this November and aligns with the urgent global need to combat plastic pollution.

What products are included in the plastic ban?

1. Plastic shopping bags
2. PET drinking bottles less than 1.5L
3. Plastic straws
4. Polystyrene Styrofoam takeaway boxes
5. Cups, plates, and plastic cutlery

Ms. Debra Kereseka, the Deputy Director of Environment in the Solomon Islands, emphasised the importance of tackling the plastic problem at its source:

“We need to stop plastic at its source; we are calling for an ambitious instrument that is legally binding and looks at the entire lifecycle of plastics, from the sourcing of raw materials all the way to the remediation of legacy pollution leaked into the environment”.

Our Leave No Trace (LNT) Program aims to make the Gizo Market 100% single-use plastic free by 2023.

Our team actively engages local vendors on the importance of minimising waste and offering solutions by providing locally-sourced, reusable alternatives. Training, marketing materials and product subsidies are free to local vendors and businesses to switch to ocean-friendly products.

The program also provides educational signage for participating businesses and is developing local supply chains to shift away from single-use plastic and polystyrene product imports.

To increase the 20 businesses currently participating in the Leave No Trace Program to 72, we will be on track to eliminate a staggering 2.6 million single-use plastic items annually, painting a compelling picture of the positive impact that can be achieved when conscious consumer choices and responsible waste management unite.

The facts: Gizo town suffers from littering and a lack of regular rubbish collection.

The town lacks proper landfill facilities and dumping and burning of solid waste on open land is common. Solid waste generated from shops, households and offices is dumped on the roadside and often not collected for weeks, creating public health and road safety risks and resulting in the degradation of the environment.

What’s even more difficult is that the Gizo community are expected to transport their standard waste—with the exception of the soft and hard plastics—to the landfill. For some, that’s over an hour commute. Because fuel prices are so high, many families cannot afford transport to-and-from the landfill site.

So, they have to decide between carrying their heavy waste bags up a long uphill and unpaved track and leaving their waste around their home or on the roadside.

Our Community Engagement and Waste Management Officer, Sumana Deni says that “most people believe that whatever goes into the ocean will disappear. More importantly, people also thought that something that is waste is treated as waste”. Our Waste to Wealth program is here to change that narrative and inspire the people of Gizo to take responsibility for their household waste.

We created our own waste management system on Gizo Island

As a result of the poor waste management on Gizo Island, we have developed our own solution – a weekly waste collection service. Our team distribute reusable, categorised bags so houses can sort soft and hard plastics effectively ready to be collected from each district every Thursday.

The waste is transported to our facility where it’s further sorted, weighed and cleaned and then; the plastics are stored in the facility—a better alternative to the ocean. Since the our Waste Collection Service began in late 2021, we have worked with 80 local households, which directly helps approximately 560 people, manage their waste.

Our waste collection service has removed over 1,540 kilograms of solid waste, employed 14 marginalised women and youth – contributing to a healthier planet and meaningful income opportunities.

Women turning trash into treasure!

Women from Plastic Wise Gizo are transforming soft plastics stored at our waste facility into crafts such as; hats, bags, cushions and purses. They recently ran a “Craft with Plastics” workshop to teach other members of the Gizo community to up-cycle their soft plastics. These crafts provide another form of income for the women as they can be sold at the local Gizo community market!

Where to from here?

In the pursuit of a greener and safer future, the Solomon Islands has taken a monumental stride by announcing a comprehensive ban on single-use plastic products, a move that not only aligns with the global imperative to combat plastic pollution but also resonates deeply with our own Leave No Trace (LNT) Source Reduction initiative.

As we witness the islands’ resolute commitment to transitioning away from plastic, our program gains renewed purpose as part of our Waste to Wealth initiative, which focuses on creating lasting change at both the community and business levels.

This ban, which will significantly curtail the use of single-use plastics, underscores the urgency and relevance of our work, as we collaborate with businesses to eliminate millions of plastic items at their source.

Through our collective efforts, we’re fostering a planet where sustainability, responsibility, and consciousness guide every step towards a brighter future.

References:

Solomon Star News – Single-use plastics banned in Solomon Islands

UN Habitat – Solomon Islands Gizo Urban Profile