The fight against single-use plastic and styrofoam has been gathering steam over the past years, and the Caribbean has been one of the regions taking the lead in this area. 14 Caribbean et Central America nations have implemented bans on plastics and styrofoam.

Concening Haiti "The Haitian government has banned black plastic bags and foam containers. The ban, which came into force on 1 August 2013 https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-8995-haiti-notice-ban-on-plastic-bags-and-styrofoam.html , is not the first ban of Michel Martelly's government; a previous attempt https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-6395-haiti-environment-measures-of-protection-for-the-environment.html was largely ignored, and environmental activists fear the government may not be able to enforce it this time either," writes the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP).

As for the Dominican Republic "The Dominican Republic is drawing up or adopting national plans and legislation to combat marine litter. Nevertheless, the board behind the organization Change.org has sent a petition to minister Francisco Dominguez Brito of Environment and Natural Resources. In this petition they make a call to ban the use of plastic packing material, and the use of plastic bags. Whatever you purchase in a supermarket in Dominican Republic, it will be packed abundantly in plastic bags," says UNEP.

A UNEP study map on the progress made by the Caribbean region, Central America, in banning plastics and styrofoams, shows that :

14 countries have established (Mexico, Antigua and Barbuda, Aruba, Colombia, France, Guyana, Haiti, Panama, Puerto Rico, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Turks and Caicos, United States Virgin Islands, Guatemala, Honduras) of bans.

5 countries have bans announced (Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Costa Rica, Dominica)

8 countries are under discussion to adopt them at government level (Cayman Islands, Grenada, El Salvador, Jamaica, St Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, United States of America, Trinidad and Tobago)

5 countries are in discussion to adopt them at NGO level (Curacao, Dominican Republic, Nicaragua, Suriname, British Virgin Islands)

While 2 countries (Cuba and Venezuela) have no ban.

However, it should be noted that having legislation is not enough if it is not applied as it has been in Haiti since the prohibition came into effect in 2013. https://www.icihaiti.com/en/news-21244-icihaiti-environment-5-years-of-ineffective-fight-against-polystyrene-and-styrofoam-products.html

See also :

https://www.icihaiti.com/en/news-21244-icihaiti-environment-5-years-of-ineffective-fight-against-polystyrene-and-styrofoam-products.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-8995-haiti-notice-ban-on-plastic-bags-and-styrofoam.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-6395-haiti-environment-measures-of-protection-for-the-environment.html

HL/ HaïitiLibre