Lifting the ban on importing single-use plastic straws used for drinking liquids is a step backward for an important environmental milestone, the opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) has stated.
According to the Waste Management Act, plastic straws are included in the list of environment-damaging single-use plastic items whose importation, production, and placing on the market are prohibited among plastics and plastic-made articles. That item was banned in 2022 by the previous administration.
However, bringing changes to that, President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu has decided to suspend the ban on importing plastic straws to the Maldives, with June 2031 now set as the new date for prohibiting the item.
Expressing concern over the President's decision, the MDP said in a press statement issued tonight that the government's decision represents a rollback of an important environmental step after the public and businesses have spent years implementing and getting used to it.
The statement noted that with the policy banning the import of plastic straws, the amount of plastic waste visible on Maldivian beaches and public spaces has also decreased significantly.
"When such changes have been made, changing the policy without an adequate reason or justification is something that will destroy certainty regarding regulations and policies and diminish the credibility of the government's environmental promises," the statement said.
MDP stated that the excuses presented by the government for this are not sufficient reasons, and the government has not disclosed research or adequate reasons proving why such a change had to be made, why this could not be resolved through other regulations, or why the deadline had to be extended until 2031.
"Repeatedly postponing the environmental commitments made by the Maldives is something that will discourage investments made by businesses to comply with environmental regulations in the future. And it is a hindrance to the work done by the Maldives in the international arena regarding the environment, and an assault on the health of the Maldivian environment," the MDP stated.
This decision was made, as the government has stated, because users point out that paper straws used as an alternative to plastic straws disintegrate and melt in water, causing difficulties in use, and because such straws are manufactured with a plastic layer inside and use glue, discarding them increases the likelihood of creating microplastics.
In addition to plastic straws, the temporary importation of bottled water in plastic bottles of one liter and smaller, between 500 milliliters, has also been permitted. Furthermore, it has been decided to ban ready-made beverages packaged in plastic bottles smaller than 250 milliliters instead of 500 milliliters.
