ABOUT US
Plastic Free SXM was executed by the Sint Maarten Development Fund (SMDF) on behalf of the Government of Sint Maarten between January 2023 and February 2025. The project included extensive stakeholder engagement, data collection, the development of a legislative framework, and the creation of supporting communication materials to help facilitate the transition to more sustainable practices. The legislative framework developed through Plastic Free SXM was submitted to the Ministry of General Affairs in December 2024, and in March 2025, SMDF officially transferred all remaining project deliverables to the Government of St. Maarten.
This project is supported by the Resilience, Sustainable Energy and Marine Biodiversity Programme (RESEMBID), funded by the European Union, and implemented by Expertise France. RESEMBID is a 47-project progamme supporting sustainable human development efforts in 12 Caribbean Overseas Countries and Territories (OCTs) - Aruba, Anguilla, Bonaire, British Virgin Islands, the Cayman Islands, Curaçao, Montserrat, Saba, Sint Eustatius, Saint Barthélemy, Sint Maarten and Turks and Caicos.
#plasticfreesxm in action
History
2020
In November 2022, the Parliament of Sint Maarten, under the initiative of Member of Parliament Sarah Wescot-Williams, passed a significant amendment to the "Plastics Ordinance". This amendment introduced specific restrictions on plastic bags, straws, and polystyrene foam products to mitigate plastic pollution.
2021 -
2022
The Ministry of General Affairs takes the next steps and explores funding opportunities to work towards developing the legislation required to bring the prohibitions of the Plastic Ordinance into effect.
2023 - 2025
The Plastic Free SXM initiative is launched by the Ministry of General Affairs, together with the Sint Maarten Development Fund (SMDF) under the funding of the Caribbean Overseas Countries and Territories (OCTs) Resilience, Sustainable Energy and Marine Biodiversity Programme (RESEMBID). The initiative will raise awareness, facilitate action, gather data, and strengthen legislation to implement the Plastic Ordinance.
2025
Presenting the legislation to Parliament for approval!