Government is committing $75 m over three years, towards the implementation of a plastic bottle deposit scheme.

Minister without portfolio in the Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation Daryl Vaz says the scheme is being put in place in partnership with a private sector entity which has already taken on the task of reducing plastic bottle waste in the country.

He says government is providing financial support to Recycling Partners of Jamaica, towards the island wide collection and export of plastic bottles under the Housing Opportunities Production and Employment (HOPE) programme.

The minister was addressing a world oceans day event in Kingston on Friday.

He explained that under the scheme, plastic bottles will have a value, so instead of throwing them out, persons can turn them in, in exchange for cash.

He stressed that the initiative is needed to reduce plastic bottle waste in the country, pointing out that Jamaicans use and dispose of almost one billion plastic bottles annually.

In the meantime, Mr. Vaz says the working group on single-use plastic, recently concluded its work and subsequent consultations were held with several stakeholders in order to arrive at a consensus on the actions that must be taken about the issue.

The minister adds that government is also working on a plastic minimisation project in collaboration with United Nations environment and the government of japan to reduce and manage plastic marine litter from land-based activities in an environmentally sound manner.