This Bill seeks to provide for the use and management of single use plastic bags and other similar single use products in the Islands. The Government finds that there is a need to manage the use of single plastic bags in the Islands to conserve the environment,; to preserve wildlife in the Islands and to manage the growing waste from the increased use of single use plastic bags and other similar single use products over the last few decades. The Governments also finds that it has a duty to protect the natural environment, the economy and the health of the residents of these Islands In particular, plastic shopping bags are difficult to recycle and creates litter problems in neighbourhoods, streets, parks and open space lands.

Therefore, it is the intent of the Government to encourage the use of reusable bags by consumers and retailers and to reduce the consumption of single use plastic bags. Therefore, the purposes of this Ordinance is to provide for the following :

1. To ban the importation of single use plastic bags into the Islands, whether they are bio-degradable or non-biodegradable, with handles, which are given to consumers at the point of sale.
2. To prohibit the stocking, distribution or sale of single use plastic bag in the Islands to reduce the use of single use plastic bags for the benefit of the Islanders and residents.
3. To specifically prohibit retailers from providing single use plastic bags at the point of sale to their customers from the 1st day of May 2019.
4. To provide for certain plastic bags to be exempted for health and sanitary reasons and for limited personal use.
5. To provide for the types of alternative bags that are allowed and that which retailers may provide to their customers for free or at a price to encourage consumers to use bags that are better for the preservation of the environment.

The Turks and Caicos Government has approved  the plastic and other single use products (Use and Waste Management) Bill 2019 Ordinance. Effective May 1, 2019, businesses shall be prohibited from providing plastic checkout bags and non-recyclable paper bags to their customers at the point of sale for the purpose of transporting groceries or other merchandise. Nothing in the ordinance shall preclude a business from making available to customers, with or without charge, at the point of sale: 1) reusable bags, compostable plastic bags, or recyclable paper bags for the purpose of transporting  groceries or other merchandise; or 2) non-recyclable paper bags to protect or transport prepared foods, beverages, or bakery goods.

“Plastic Checkout Bag” means a carryout bag that is provided by a business to a customer for the purpose of transporting groceries or other retail goods, and is made from non-compostable plastic and not specifically designed and manufactured for multiple re-use. “single use plastic bag” means a bio-degradable or nonbiodegradable plastic bag which :

• is not designed and manufactured for multiple reuse;
• has handles;
• is made from non-compostable plastic; and
• is distributed at the point of sale in retail trade, to carry out goods.

Notwithstanding section 3 and 4 the following list of plastic bags are not prohibited in the Islands :

• bags used to package produce and vegetables;
• laundry or dry-cleaning bags;
• newspaper bags;
• bags used to contain or wrap fresh or frozen fish; meat or poultry;
• bags used to wrap, hold or contain prescriptions, medical supplies and samples;
• bags used to package baked goods;
• bags used to package small hardware items;
• bags used as primary packaging of prepared food, whether hot or cold;
• bags used to package personal effects, and contained in the luggage of a person travelling into or out of the Islands;
• bags used as garbage bags;
• bags used as ice bags; or
• any other plastic bag that the Minister may by Order exempt.

Nothing in this Ordinance prevents a retailer from charging for an alternative bag. For the purposes of this section, an alternative bag includes the following :

• recycled or recyclable paper bags;
• cloth;
• straw bags;
• baskets;
• leather or its derivative; or
• any other durable material suitable for [continual] reuse.

Turks and Caicos Islands single use plastic bag ban will affect all retailers – from grocery and fast food stores to fashion boutiques and pharmacies – currently using light-weight single use plastic bags, including biodegradable, compostable, and degradable plastic bags.

The Government has created a dedicated website for the plastic bag ban. It has detailed information about the ban and provides resources for retailer and consumers to be informed.

Under the ban, retailers are no longer allowed to supply shoppers with single-use lightweight plastic shopping bags. This includes compostable, degradable and biodegradable plastic shopping bags.

Retailers may choose to provide and charge for alternative bags, which can include reusable heavy-duty plastic bags, woven polypropylene 'green' bags, paper or other bags. Shoppers can also bring their own bag or trolley.

A retailer who is found to be supplying the banned bags after 1 July 2018 may be fined for subject to further penalty.