An environmental collective has welcomed legislation to stamp out single-use plastics — but questioned why no specific products had been added to the schedule of those facing bans or restrictions.

In a statement issued to The Royal Gazette, Beyond Plastics Bermuda, which includes representation from Keep Bermuda Beautiful and the Bermuda Environmental Sustainability Taskforce, congratulated Jaché Adams, the Minister of Public Works and Environment, for bringing the Bill to the House of Assembly on Friday, saying it believed he was “committed to doing what is right for the people of Bermuda”.

Mr Adams told MPs that although previous consultation had explored the issue, there would be dialogue before individual products were identified and added to the schedule of banned items. He said it would be done in a phased approach.

In an on-screen interview posted on the Government of Bermuda’s Facebook page, Mr Adams stated that consultation would commence if the Bill was passed, and, once completed, implementation would start “shortly thereafter”.

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However, the group, which has worked alongside the Government, businesses and the community to support Bermuda’s transition away from plastic products, said: “We are disappointed that no specific products have yet been included in the schedule, despite extensive consultation and the passage of time.

“While we understand the complexities involved, Bermuda must now act quickly and align with global efforts to eliminate the most harmful and avoidable single-use plastics.

“The primary focus of this legislation should be on the biggest contributors to pollution and human exposure, namely single-use plastics associated with takeaway food and everyday consumer use.

“These items represent a significant and avoidable source of environmental harm and human health risk. Even once restrictions are introduced, exposure to plastics will remain widespread and we encourage individuals to reduce use wherever feasible.

“Beyond Plastic Bermuda looks forward to participating in the consultation process and urges the public to engage.”

The group encouraged the Government to move as quickly as possible to introduce restrictions on a range of high-impact items.

The list includes plastic bags, plastic food receptacles and trays, styrofoam food containers, plastic-lined paper cups, plastic cups and plates, plastic cutlery, plastic-stemmed cotton buds and products containing microplastics, with a longer-term view towards reducing plastic drink bottles.

The group highlighted their impacts, not only on the environment but on human health. it added that it was also a social justice and economic issue.

The spokeswoman said that single-use plastics accounted for about half of global plastic production, with overall production projected to double within the next two decades.

While the cost of alternatives was a concern, “the long-term costs to human health, the environment and the economy far outweigh the short-term cost of change”.

“Nothing we use for a few minutes should pollute our planet for ever,” she said.

Angel Smith, the executive director of KBB, said the tabling of the Single-Use Plastics Bill marked a meaningful step towards addressing one of Bermuda’s most visible and persistent environmental challenges.

Ms Smith added: “The reality is that the vast majority of litter found in Bermuda, and indeed around the world, is single-use plastic, and we see that reflected every day in the work we do.

“We look forward to seeing the first items added to the schedule as soon as possible and to participating in the consultation process to help ensure the legislation delivers real and lasting impact.

“I would like to recognise the incredible commitment of the Beyond Plastic Bermuda campaign team, who have contributed more than 10,000 hours over the past five years to education, advocacy and community engagement. We are deeply grateful to Bacardi for their early support of the campaign, which helped make this progress possible.

“As we enter this next phase, we are inviting businesses to be part of the solution by joining our Beyond Plastic Champions programme. We also welcome new sponsors to support this work as we expand our outreach and help Bermuda transition away from single-use plastics.”

Ms Smith also encouraged the community to join any of KBB’s clean-ups. “Spending even an hour collecting litter makes it clear just how much of it is single-use plastic and why change is so urgently needed,” she added.

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The issue of single-use plastics comes with history on the island. Banning plastic bags was proposed by the Government in 2010, but the issue never advanced.

The 2018 Speech from the Throne offered the goal of eliminating single-use plastics by 2022.

In 2019, Walter Roban, the former Minister of Home Affairs, said the Government was drafting relevant legislation.

That plan stalled, but the issue returned in July 2024 when Mr Roban said a paper was being prepared for Cabinet before the summer’s end. That November, he said the Attorney-General would soon draft legislation.

During the House session on Friday, Mr Adams said the Bill was “not designed to ban every item overnight, but to establish the legal framework for Bermuda’s transition away from the most harmful single-use plastics through consultation, science and a phased, responsible approach”.

The Ministry of Public Works and Environment has been approached for comment.