Private sector encouraged to support third phase of plastic ban
explained.
Gavin is happy with the feedback from participants.
“The response, so far, has been overwhelming because we are over the limit as to the number of persons we wanted to train. The women are keen to learn, and we rarely have anyone being absent. They are also here early in the days. All the women are from March Pen and Corletts Road; and their ages range from 18-40 years old. They appreciate the training and they are already thinking about how they can become better entrepreneurs,” she advised.
Karen Walsh-stamp, head regional credit sales and operations, JN Small Business Loans, advised the women to be confident when pitching for funds.
“You are always making a pitch for your business. When you go somewhere, and you are telling someone about your business, it is a pitch. It is selling your business. You have to tell your potential customer or sponsor about what you do, the product or service you offer, and why it is better than your competitors. While doing this, you need to be confident about it. Remember, it is yours, therefore, be proud of it,” she advised.
Nadesda Mcdonald, who operates a bar in the community, said that she decided to participate in the programme because she wanted tips about how to serve snacks in order to grow her business.
“I have been learning a lot, especially about how to pitch and manage my bar better. The information has been helpful and will benefit my business,” she said.
Shanice Morris, who plans to start a business to sell scented candles and hair products, said that the training has pointed her in the direction of the type of business she wants to develop.
“Before enrolling, I was slightly unsure about what I wanted to do, in terms of the business. However, the workshop has pointed me in the right direction; and provided me with pointers about how to secure funding, budgeting and planning, to ensure that I do well,” she related.
MINISTER of Housing, Urban Renewal, Environment and Climate Change Pearnel Charles Jr is encouraging private sector stakeholders to support the third phase of the national ban on single-use plastics, being implemented in January 2021.
This phase will target single-use plastic bags, with dimensions above 24” x 24” and thickness of 2.5 mils.
A ban will also be placed on single-use drinking straws, made wholly or in part from polyethylene or polypropylene, which are attached to juice boxes or drink pouches.
“We continue to encourage the private sector to view the measures being implemented as an economic opportunity to look at waste as a resource by turning ‘trash into cash’; and also to reap the competitive advantages associated with the emergence of the new markets that our challenges with waste create [can potentially provide],” Minister Charles said.
He was speaking during the inaugural Plastic Waste Management Conference, hosted virtually by the National Environment and Planning Agency, on December 2.
Charles said the new opportunities and benefits for both consumers and producers exist within the realities of the ban.
“This is also an opportunity for the private sector to collectively and individually review their operations as well as products and services provided to the domestic market, to ensure that they have no adverse impact on the environment,” he stated.
The minister said the Government was diligent in engaging all stakeholders in the process of advancing policy ban.
These, he said, included: the Jamaica Manufacturers and Exporters Association, Jamaica Chamber of Commerce, Small Business Association of Jamaica, and National Consumers League of Jamaica, as well as individual manufacturers, importers, and distributors.
“Although there was some initial hesitation for the first two phases of the ban by the private sector, the [subsequent] response has been overwhelmingly positive,” Minister Charles reported.
He also used the opportunity to encourage consumers to make informed purchases and opt to use eco-friendly products and services.
The Natural Resources Conservation Authority (Plastic Packaging Materials Prohibition) Order, 2018, and the Trade (Plastic Packaging Materials Prohibition) Order, 2018, were promulgated and gazetted, thereby enforcing the national ban on single-use plastics.
Phase one, which entailed a ban on the importation, manufacture, distribution and use of specific types of single-use plastic carrier bags below a 25-gallon packaging capacity came into effect in January 2019.
Phase two, targeting polystyrene foam, also commonly referred to by the trademarked name Styrofoam ™, and similar material, came into effect on January 1, 2020.