CMC:  

A ban on Styrofoam will take effect in 2019, this follows government approval, which will also see an almost immediate ban on the importation of products

Last week, Planning and Development Minister Camille Robinson-Regis in making the announcement, said local polystyrene manufacturers will be given time to make their products environmentally-friendly,

In addition to the planned ban, Government has also been encouraging citizens to begin recycling other waste such as polyethylene terephthalate (PET) plastic bottles, drink cartons, aluminium cans and glass bottles.

The phasing out of polystyrene foam products has already begun in Tobago after the Tobago House of Assembly (THA) passed a motion to do so last year.

Earlier this year, THA member Linford Beckles told a Joint Select Committee of Parliament that the THA is looking at two alternatives to replace the Styrofoam, one is bagasse-based and the other is corn-based, both of which are coming out of the United States.

He said the containers are sturdy and are able to “contain a lot of grease”.