This report is the result of a desktop study, commissioned by the Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture (Cefas) under the Commonwealth Marine Litter Programme (CLiP). Its aim was to provide a worldwide overview, by country, on current single-use plastic restrictions, and an analysis of any alternatives being used as a result, in order to inform CliP’s activities in Belize.
CLiP’s work supports a number of developing countries across the Commonwealth by developing national litter action plans, focussed on plastics entering the oceans, by sharing expertise and finding solutions to the environmental and socio-economic problems caused by litter in the marine environment. The study, and resulting report, support that objective by providing:
- A worldwide review of currently implemented bans/restrictions by countries on single use plastics and/or polystyrene, their implementation and subsequent efficiency including the economic, environmental, policy and legal implications, including any recommendations for future bans.
- A worldwide review of alternative materials now used to replace currently banned items/materials, their economic, social and environmental impacts, success of their replacement as well as a pro-cons assessment between materials. As part of this review, the ability of countries with varying levels of waste management to sustainably process these alternative materials after use was also considered, with focus on Belize’s solid waste management systems.
This report is available free of charge. Please provide a few details about yourself and one of the team will email you the full report shortly.
