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A14   LOCAL
                    Monday 6 January 2020
            Plastic ban: the law has passed




                                                                                                   The ordinance:
                                                                                                   The government of Aruba together with Entities of the pri-
                                                                                                   vate sector of Aruba Endorsement Considering:
                                                                                                   •      The  increased  environmental  challenges  the
                                                                                                   world is facing as well as Aruba;
                                                                                                   •      The  UN  2030  Sustainable  Development  Goals
                                                                                                   (SDG's), especially SDG's 12,13,14 and 15, focused on the
                                                                                                   importance of responsible consumption, safeguarding of
                                                                                                   oceans and terrestrials areas as well as climate action;
                                                                                                   •      The importance of the protection of Aruba's coral
                                                                                                   reefs  and  marine  life,  greatly  under  pressure  due  to  in-
                                                                                                   creased human activity;
                                                                                                   •      The importance of sustainable business practices
                                                                                                   in  order  to  safeguard  Aruba's  economy,  environment
                                                                                                   and the well-being of its citizens;
                                                                                                   •      The leadership role the private sector of Aruba has
                                                                                                   taken regarding the sector's contribution towards com-
                                                                                                   bating plastic pollution and the degradation of Aruba's
                                                                                                   natural resources;
                                                                                                   •      The importance of cross-sector collaboration for
            ORANJESTAD  —The  island’s  government  benzone is to be prohibited in Aruba. The      solving societal and environmental matters;
            made a decision in 2017 to ban all single  ban  is  effective  in  2019,  with  a  one-year   •   The government's ambition to fortify and instill a
            use plastic bags and has now extended it  transition period to a total ban in 2020. The   sense of pride, love and ownership within all individuals
            to include items as plastic cups and straws  Plastic  Ban  Ordinance  will  go  into  effect   that live or visit Aruba and to further evoke the realization
            and Styrofoam boxes, such as disposable  as of July 1st 2020, together with the list of   that there is only one Aruba
            coolers. Also, sunscreens containing oxy-  products that are prohibited.
                                                                                                   Decide:
                                                                                                   To endorse the law banning the use of singe use plastics
                                                                                                   and Oxybenzone (Landsverordening verbod op voor het
                                                                                                   milieu schadelijke producten) and to stimulate construc-
                                                                                                   tive  and  continuous  dialogue  as  well  as  awareness  re-
                                                                                                   garding sustainable business practices.

                                                                                                   GOA & Private Sector endorsement
                                                                                                   This endorsement does not, nor is it intended to, create
                                                                                                   any binding, legal obligations under domestic or interna-
                                                                                                   tional law Signed in Aruba on 27 November 2019.

                                                                                                   What type of products are prohibited?
                                                                                                   •      Single use plastic bags with any type of handle;
                                                                                                   •      Single  use  plastic  bags  in  supermarkets  to  pack
                                                                                                   fruit and vegetables;
                                                                                                   •      Single use plastic cutlery;
                                                                                                   •      Single use plastic/styrofoam cups; Single use plas-
                                                                                                   tic stirrers; Single use plastic straws;
                                                                                                   •      Single use plastic/styrofoam plates;
                                                                                                   •      Single  use  plastic/styrofoam  containers  used  for
                                                                                                   immediate consumption like fast food containers;
                                                                                                   •      Suntan lotion/cream with Oxybenzone;
                                                                                                   •      Biodegradable products not mentioned in the list
                                                                                                   of exempted products.

                                                                                                   What type of single use products exempt until further no-
                                                                                                   tice?
                                                                                                   •      Single use plastic straw for medical use;
                                                                                                   •      Single use plastic/styrofoam recipient for cold cuts
                                                                                                   and raw meats;
                                                                                                   •      Saran  wrap;  Plastic  lids  (non  plastic/styrofoam/
                                                                                                   biodegradable) on allowed containers/cups; Plastic food
                                                                                                   packages used for prepackaging products by local food
                                                                                                   manufactures for whole sale, their products fall under the
                                                                                                   exemption in 'deel A & B - indicated as "drankverpakkin-
                                                                                                   gen, borden en zakjes en wikkels die voedingsmiddelen
                                                                                                   bevatten";

                                                                                                   What is the scope of the prohibition?
                                                                                                   •      Import of the prohibited products;
                                                                                                   •      Manufacturing of the prohibited products;
                                                                                                   •      Sale of the prohibited products;
                                                                                                   •      To offer of the prohibited products; q
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