Minister of Housing, Urban Renewal, Environment and Climate Change, Pearnel Charles Jr, is encouraging youth to innovate eco-friendly solutions, in light of the pending implementation of the third phase of the plastic ban.

“This is not an end to life as we know it, but a call, particularly to our youth, to innovate and create viable business models and alternatives to single-use plastics. Plastic pollution is a national, regional and global crisis and the time to act is now,”

Minister Charles Jr shared.

“In this time of unprecedented challenge, the Government will now, more than ever, require the cooperation and support of all facets of society, particularly youth, in assisting in the fight against plastic pollution,”

Charles Jr said.

He noted that plastic pollution may be exacerbated due to the use and consumption of personal protective equipment (PPE), such as masks and gloves, necessitated by the COVID-19 pandemic. The Minister encouraged youth to use the opportunity to create cloth masks and liquid sanitisers among other eco-friendly products to replace various single-use plastics.

He noted that the ultimate goal of the plastic ban is to move society forward into action, where protecting the environment is the way of life.

“We all have the responsibility of mobilising Jamaica and building a sustainable and resilient society. One of the key elements to achieving this is minimising plastic pollution,”

the Minister said.