THE Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on May 20, 2020, engaged representatives from the Private Sector Commission (PSC), along with executive members of the Georgetown, as well as, the Regional Chambers of Commerce.

A press release said that the virtual consultation aimed to: apprise the Private Sector of the ban; discuss the potential impacts on members of the Private Sector, along with opportunities for businesses, and recommendations to remedy any possible social and economic gaps which may arise as a result of the ban.

“Prior to the prevailing COVID-19 pandemic, the EPA conducted a series of consultations with several business stakeholders, including supermarkets and importers of single-use plastics. However, due to the COVID-19 restrictions, the EPA transitioned to hosting virtual consultations on the ban since April 2020, with a wide cross-section of stakeholders, including financial institutions, the tourism sector, and international partner organisations,” the EPA said in the press release.

According to the EPA, some of the major concerns emanating from the engagements with the private sector were relative to viable alternatives for the proposed items to be banned; increased education and awareness campaigns targeting the business community; and fiscal incentives to support the local development of alternatives.

At the most recent consultation, the release said, representatives of the Private Sector Commission and the Regional Chambers of Commerce endeavoured to confer with their members and other related committees, to provide more coherent feedback and recommendations on the implementation of the ban. “The Agency remains committed to ensuring that the proposed single-use plastics ban adequately captures and addresses the concerns of key stakeholders, so as to ensure the smoothest possible transition and more effective compliance,” the release said.

The Agency said it has an upcoming virtual consultation with representatives from bars, restaurants and hotels on May 28, 2020 at 14:00h. This follows the success of its first facebook live session on April 22, 2020. Another facebook live session relative to the ban is scheduled for June 03, 2020 at 13:00h (1:00pm).

The Agency is making every effort to meet with as many stakeholders as possible, including members of the public, and importers/manufacturers of single-use plastics and/or alternatives. “We encourage you to contact us if you have feedback to provide. Please also participate in our public survey made accessible on our social media pages,” the release said.