Working Papers

Globally, plastic production has been growing rapidly. Between 1964 and 2014 the production of plastics increased twenty-fold, from 15 million tons (MT) to 311 MT; this figure is expected to double within the next twenty years. Plastics currently offer unrivalled properties including versatility, durability and low cost, making it the preferred material of the modern economy. However, current usage levels and disposal methods have significant environmental and economic costs.This report identifies and evaluates policies and best practices used in other countries to manage plastic bag waste and makes recommendations taking into account the specifics of the Jamaican context.