The Ministry of Environment, Climate Change and Technology has issued a reminder about the impending prohibition on the sale of plastic water bottles smaller than one litre, scheduled to come into effect in December.
The production and sale of 13 types of single-use plastics (SUPs) have already been banned at different intervals throughout the year, under the powers granted to President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih by the Environmental Protection and Preservation Act of the Maldives.
The latest announcement from the environment ministry reveals that the import and production of plastic water bottles one litre, as well as under one litre, will be banned starting in December. The bottles will no longer be permitted in the market, including the commonly available 500ml plastic water bottles, by March 1 next year.
The plan to phase out the use of single-use plastics is a national initiative to phase out the production, importation, and consumption of certain SUPs, in the efforts to protect human health, and the vulnerable marine environment of the Maldives.