By FARRAH JOHNSON
fjohnson@tribunemedia.net
RETAILERS who fail to comply with the 25 cent per plastic bag charge could be given a notice to appear in court, according to a representative of the Ministry of Environment and Housing.
Dr Rhianna Neely-Murphy, the Department of Environmental Health’s senior environmental officer, told The Tribune while most businesses are in compliance with the plastic ban, there are a few “non-compliant” retailers that environment officials will be “addressing in short order.”
“At this point we are beyond the warning stages,” she said.
“Most of the businesses that are not compliant we would have visited them once already so that would have been the warning. When we go back for the second time, if they remain non-compliant they will be given a notice that they are in non-compliance with whatever section of the legislation and (given) a notice to appear in court.”
Mrs Neely-Murphy said the fee merchants are legally required to charge customers for plastic bags is the only component of the plastic ban that certain retailers are in violation of. While she declined to name a particular business, she insisted the ministry has made the effort to ensure the public is fully knowledgeable of what the plastic ban entails.
“We have released a press statement to correct much of the misinformation that has been out there (and) we’ve made appearances on almost every radio station and every talk show that is based in New Providence to address some of the misinformation that is out there, so I think most people are clear on what is banned and why we have the 25 cent fee and all of the dates that are important as well.
“After the six-month period, the public can expect to not see any of the four banned items in the country anymore.”
Mrs Neely-Murphy was referring to a statement the ministry issued in January which addressed and clarified the purpose of the single-use plastic ban.
“By reducing the proliferation of plastic in our communities we will create a healthier environment that will serve to prevent massive landfill fires, reduce litter on our streets and beaches, and improve our general health,” the statement read. “This ban is also a part of the government’s response to climate change, a global phenomenon that is devastating our environment by shifting weather patterns and creating monster storms like Hurricane Dorian…By acting today, we aim to reduce the potential risk, cost and devastation that we could all face tomorrow.”
A ban on single-use plastics and Styrofoam came into effect on January 1 and these items can longer be imported. However, merchants and vendors can run down their existing supplies without charging consumers —except for plastic bags, which are subject to a fee of $25 cents to $1.
Businesses can charge this fee until the end of June.
“The purpose of the fee is to discourage consumers from buying plastic bags and to encourage them to bring reusable bags to shop so that they do not need to buy a plastic bag,” the ministry said in a recent statement. “This will reduce the number of plastic bags in circulation.”
The Ministry of the Environment and Housing continued: “Businesses can sell compostable bags, which look like plastic bags but are plant-based and therefore less harmful to the environment, from January 1, 2020, until 2022. Consumers have the option to buy plastic bags from businesses to transport their purchases or to bring their own reusable bags to shop.
“The checkout fee on plastic bags and biodegradable bags will be eliminated nationwide on July 1, 2020, as business owners will be prohibited from selling or using them as of this date. Additionally, business owners will be prohibited from selling or permitting the use of any of the ‘4Bidden Four’ items within their establishments after this date.”
Comments
proudloudandfnm 4 years, 2 months ago
Instead of fining them for not charging the .25 (which is just stupid by the way) FINE THEM FOR NOT OFFERING AN OPTION. 3 times now I've gone to Solomon's and no options were given, no plastic bags or cloth bags for sale. FINE THEM FOR THAT!
stopthehypocrasy 4 years, 2 months ago
They missing the point anyway! Whether you charge for the bags now or not, whatever plastic bags these shops have in inventory after July 1st, where do you think they are all going to go? Straight to the landfill if they can't sell them! Yes stopping the import of them is a good start but limiting how retailers get rid of them and making people pay for them only delays the inevitable. At least people can reuse the bags at home or for other uses but at the end of the day whatever is left in inventory is still going to be thrown away and dumped in the landfill!
Godson 4 years, 2 months ago
This is so comical. Doesn't anyone in the government realize that such policy and law is flat out unconstitutional?
YOU CANNOT COMPEL SOMEONE TO SELL SOMETHING THAT THEY HAVE CHOSEN TO GIVE AWAY FREELY. It is not a firearm or illegal narcotics.
I can freely sell something of value or, if I chose, I can give it away!
bahamianson 4 years, 2 months ago
Paging Wayne Munroe.
joeblow 4 years, 2 months ago
This reminds of that movie "Dumb and Dumber"!
Dawes 4 years, 2 months ago
Yet again why are we still on this. Yes government can make merchants charge for the bag, and yes a merchant does not have to provide an alternate. I fully expect come the outright ban that the same people complaining are going to complain when the stores increase prices to be able to provide alternates (a plastic bag costs less then a cent the alternate are well over that so if they provide alternates there will be an increase in the cost of items).
birdiestrachan 4 years, 2 months ago
How very DUMB of Neilly Murphy perhaps her time will be better spent at Potters Cay dock. but she works for the man of two birds and one goat. so what more can one expect.??
John 4 years, 2 months ago
Anytime you come across these women with the hyphenated last name their thinking is not rational and regardless of their level of education they always seem to be drowning in stupidity. They hide behind marriage to hide their ballsiness and always want to be strongarming others in society (marital rape because they don't want to submit). Merchants purchased plastic bags as is usual in the operation of their businesses. The bags were legal and an essential part of the business. Then the government decided to ban single-use bags. And the businesses were willing to comply. Then the government demanded business charge customers a bag tax for every bag used. This (as was intended) caused customers to refused plastic bags, as was the intention of eliminating the bags. BUT it also created a problem for a business that had stocked up on sufficient bags to run until the ban is fully in effect at the end of June. They are now being told they will have to dump the bags at the end of June. Now this hyphenated bozo, rather than meeting with businesses and finding a less costly, more palatable solution, is threatening to take businesses to court (just as she's willing to take her husband for marital rape) and inflict even more financial burden and hardship on them. Why does this government have the perception that when it comes to Bahamians, there must be penalties and the penalties must be stiff? What ignoramus would rather see businesses dump millions of dollars worth of plastic bags in the landfill rather that utilizing them before they are disposed off. Idiots
Sign in to comment
Or login with:
OpenID