Ban On Single-Use Plastic Straws

Ministry of Environment Energy and Climate Change

Ban on Plastic Straws

The Ministry of Environment Energy and Climate Change has implemented the restriction on the single-use plastic straws. The announcement of such a ban was made June 5^th 2018 to commemorate World Environment Day. The restriction is bound to apply on the 1^st February 2019 which will give the businesses, retailers and importers enough time to complete their available stock, as the total ban of manufacturing and selling of single-use plastic straws will be implemented 1^st June 2019. There are no local businesses that produces single-use plastic straws in the country. The Department of environment has considered that the restriction will apply for the single-use plastic straws used for beverages such as cocktails, not straws that comes along with juice boxes. The aim of this interdiction is part of reducing the amount of plastic waste material deposited on land field. Single-use Plastic straws is one of the most common type of waste material collected during beach cleanups. Hospitality establishments have already been informed of the upcoming ban on single-use plastic straws through various campaigns made by the Seychelles Hospitality and Tourism Association (SHTA), the department of environment and NGO’s. Quite a number of hotels are encouraging their guest to use the Disposable and Biodegradable paper, pasta straws or even reusable metal straws as one perfect replacement for the harmful plastic straws. Hilton Seychelles Labriz Resort and Spa has demonstrate their support by using the environmental-friendly straws.

 Photo credited: Mr. Alain Decomarmond (Pasta Straw)