SUPs banned for import republished under the Waste Management Act

President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih has issued a decree republishing the list of Single-Use Plastics (SUPs) banned for import into the Maldives under the Waste Management Act.

Phasing out the use of SUPs in the Maldives is one of the government’s key environmental pledges. The Waste Management Act, ratified on December 18, 2022, repealed sections 1-8 of the Environment Protection and Preservation Act.

The list published specifies 13 items, prohibits their manufacture within the country, and dates when they will be banned from importation into the country. These include plastic tubes, cups and spoons, styrofoam boxes for food, and plastic bags and cups of certain sizes.