Bill on single-use plastic bag ban moves forward

As the islandwide ban on single-use plastic bags moves a step forward, the bill’s author, Sen. Vinnie Sablan (Ind-Saipan), hopes that its passage would lead to a shift among consumers and businesses into using reusable bags.

With tourism as the CNMI’s main industry, and the geographical size of the island being very small, Sablan believes it is vital to prioritize the protection of the environment.

“We use tourism as our main industry. When our visitors come, they want to see a clean environment, and so that was the force behind me introducing this bill,” Sablan said.

The Plastic Bag Bill, or Senate Bill 21-37, seeks to prohibit the importation and production of single-use plastic bags in the CNMI four months after its enactment, and would bar businesses from providing single-use plastic checkout bags a year after its enactment. This gives businesses ample time to make the adjustments necessary to implement the ban.

“There has been a lot of misconception that all plastics will be banned,” the senator said. “We want to start small and we want to start somewhere. So, we’re just looking at the checkout bags at the counter. Trash bags, produce bags, bags of ice, those will still be allowed.”

“What we’re trying to do and promote is the practice of bringing your own bags into the store or using paper or boxes, and transporting items that you purchased at stores using those,” he added.

Sablan pointed out that everyone in the community has to do a part to keep the beaches pristine, and the wildlife and marine life protected. The ban is also a step to preventing more trash ending up in the landfill.

“It comes at a time where we are having issues to fund our local landfill. Our transfer stations are really at their peak, and we are trying to control that. We are trying to find money to manage our trash,” Sablan said. “I understand that change is very hard. We have been living with the use of plastic bags for years, but I think our society can move into this new positive practice to keep our environment clean.”

The Senate is currently accepting comments and recommendations prior to packaging it into a final polished bill.

Palau, Hawaii, Guam, Yap, Fiji, Vanuatu, and the Marshall Islands have already implemented bans or restrictions on the use of single-use plastic.