Plastic bag ban to take effect Jan 1, 2017 in the US Virgin Islands

SPOKANE (Scrap Monster): The ban on use of plastic bags proposed by the US Virgin Islands Waste Management Authority will come into effect Jan 1, 2017. The proposal was signed into law Friday by Governor Kenneth Mapp. The bill exempts the use of certain categories of plastic bags. Retailers will be allowed three months transition period, after which fines will be charged. The bill aims to reduce the litter caused by plastic bags. It also intends to promote the use of reusable bags and recyclable paper bags in place of plastic bags.

Bill No. 31-0379 is one among the three bills proposed by Senator Neville James by request of the Governor. The other two bills-Bill No. 31-0380 on source separation and Bill No. 31-0316 on comprehensive waste reduction and recycling program are currently under the consideration of the Rules Committee. Mapp thanked members of the legislature and his own administrative staff team for their efficient and collaborative effort in passing the landmark legislation. He noted that the passage of all the three bills would lead to a cleaner and greener community by significantly reducing the amount of waste going into landfills.

According to Government House press release, the Virgin Islands have become a leader in enacting ban on plastic bags. It noted that only few jurisdictions under the Caribbean Islands have been successful on implementing plastic bag usage restriction, although many have been debating the issue for a long time now.

The legislature imposes ban on use of plastic checkout bags provided by a business to customer for the purpose of transporting groceries or other retail goods. It also covers non-recyclable paper bags provided at the point of sale for the purpose of transporting groceries or other merchandise.

The items excluded from the ban includes bags used by customers to pack loose items such as fruits, vegetables, nuts, ground coffee, grains, candies or small hardware items. Bags used to wrap frozen foods, meat, fish, flowers and potted plants are also exempted from the ban. The other bags not included in the ban are those used for transporting prepared food, beverages and bakery items, pharmacy bags, newspaper bags, door-hanger bags, compostable plastic bags and laundry bags. Bags sold in packages containing multiple bags intended for use as garbage, pet waste or yard waste bags, pet store bags used to contain live animals such as fish or insects and bags used to transport chemical pesticides, drain cleaning chemicals etc.,

Any business found violating the provisions of the bill will be fined starting April 1, 2017. The bill proposes to impose civil fine of not less than $500 and not more than $1,000 for each day of violation. 50% of any such monies collected from fines or other civil penalties will go to the Virgin Islands Government Environmental Protection Fund administered by the Commissioner of the Virgin Islands Department of Planning and Natural Resources. The balance 50% will be equally shared by the Virgin Islands Waste Management Authority and the General Fund of the Treasury of the Virgin Islands.