Now what? Vendors question options after plastic ban

Several vendors in the Stony Hill and Constant Spring markets are backing the impending ban on single-use plastic bags, straws, and Styrofoam.

However, they are concerned about the alternatives that they will use when the ban takes effect on January 1, 2019.

The government says the manufacturing, distribution and importation of plastic bags measuring up to 24 inches X 24 inches will no longer be allowed except in circumstances where exceptions are granted.

A breach of the ban could result in a fine of up to $2 million or imprisonment for up to two years.

The Gleaner visited the two corporate area markets this week to gauge the reaction of vendors:

Theresa Bryan (Stony Hill Market) – I believe the plastic ban is good because plastic bags are the reason for a lot of accidents on the road. As a vendor, the ban will affect me but as long as there is an alternative, whether paper bags or market bags, it will be good.

Veronica Baker (Constant Spring Market) – Everybody now will have to bring their bags because I won't have anything to put their goods in because I only use scandal bags. It is really going to affect me and my customers a lot and I only hope they extend the time so that we can fully prepare.

Berris Bolam- (Stony Hill Market) – I think the ban is a good thing because these plastics are killing us especially when it gets in our drains however if the government says there should be a ban on plastic, before they announced it to us they should already have something in place to substitute for the plastic.

Gwendolyn Bailey (Constant Spring Market) – It’s really going to affect us because we don’t have anything else to use and we can’t give customers the goods in their hands. I really want to know what we are going to use because if we are not given another bag to use, no one will buy from us. The government should provide bags for us to purchase because they have not given us anything and we have not heard anything.

Sandra (Stony Hill Market) – The question is what are we going to use. I believe they should let people clean the place more often and throw the bags in bins. As a vendor, this is going to affect us as you can put some produce in paper bags. The only alternative I know about is MegaMart bags but that is $200 for one and no one can afford that.

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