Maldives bans production and sale of 13 types of single-use plastics

The production and sale of 13 types of single-use plastics has been banned in the Maldives.

A decree signed by President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih which was gazetted today – read that the production and sale of 13 types of single-use plastics will be banned in the Maldives starting from the following dates.

Single-use plastics of which the production and sale is banned from June 1, 2022

•          Single-use plastic-based drinking straw
•          Single-use plastic-based plates, cutleries and stirrers
•          Styrofoam boxes to package food items
•          Plastic bags smaller than 30cm (To include Oxo-degradable and degradable bags)
•          Imported sweet areca nuts in plastic wrapping
•          Single-use plastic drinking cups below 250ml
•          Cotton bud with plastic stems
•          Shampoo, soap, conditioner and lotion bottles in plastic packaging that are 50 ml and below
•          All imported water packed in plastic bottles below 500ml

Single-use plastics of which the production is banned starting from June and the sale is banned starting from September

•          Water packed in plastic bottles below 500ml produced in the Maldives
•          Other drinks packed in plastic bottles below 500ml produced in the Maldives

Single-use plastics of which the production is banned from December 2022 and the sale is banned from March 2023

•          Plastic bags below 50-micron thickness (To include Oxo-degradable and degradable bags)
•          Shampoo, soap, conditioner and lotion bottles in plastic packaging that are between 50ml and 200ml
•          Water packed in plastic bottles 1-liter and below produced in the Maldives

President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih ratified amendments to the Environment Protection Act of the Maldives to ban the production and sale of select single-use plastics last November.