Vanuatu’s pioneering ban on single-use plastics, including bags and straws, has yielded significant improvements since its implementation in 2018. The Guardian reports that plastic shopping bags are now rarely seen, with most shoppers using reusable alternatives. Festivals and events have shifted to banana leaves instead of polystyrene, reducing the banned plastics’ share of waste from 35% to less than 2%.
Local chief Mr. Ken Andrew highlighted the positive environmental impact: “Since they started the ban, you can see the lagoon has become cleaner. Previously, the plastic would form a small island inside the lagoon. We couldn’t conquer it, there was just too much.”
Building on this success, Vanuatu introduced a second phase in 2020, banning additional items like cutlery and plates. The next step involves implementing a Product Stewardship Scheme (PSS) to address beverage container waste, which remains problematic.
Ms. Roselyn Bue from the Department of Protection and Conservation (DEPC) stated, “The plastic ban has been very effective, but plastic bottles are still often seen littering coastlines. We see a PSS deposit scheme as an effective solution for collecting these items.”
The DEPC, in collaboration with Searious Business and the EU-funded PacWastePlus programme, aims to finalize the PSS scheme by the end of 2024, according to Hon. Minister Ralph Regenvanu.
