Vendors want practical alternatives for styrofoam

The ban on single-use plastic bags and styrofoam products became effective yesterday, but the vendors in downtown Kingston insist that they need alternatives that will work for them.

As it relates to reusable utensils, Oliver Thompson, who operates his business along Tower Street, said he will not give his customers anything that has been used by another person.

"When a man grounds and come eat out a plate, people a go talk seh him grounds and then dem nah go wah come and buy, and the business a go mash up," he said, to the approval of persons sitting close by.

Thompson, who sells cooked food, added that although the ban is being enforced, the wholesale outlets in the area only sell styrofoam boxes and cups. And since business will have to go on, he said he will continue to use what is being sold until something else becomes available.

Meanwhile, Oshane, who only started his soup vending business four months ago, said that his business will become nonexistent because of the ban. He is adamant that the alternative to the styrofoam cups will be more expensive, and this will have a negative impact on his business.

"If mi fi increase the soup price, that a go run weh mi customers, because the smallest soup is $100. Sometimes a man come and seh him have a $50, mi nah go turn him back. At the end of the day, this ban a go affect the poor man pan the street weh a look a living fi help him kids," said the vendor, who operates at the intersection of Princess and Barry streets.

Oshane said that even though the soup business is more profitable, he may have to go back to selling shrimp, as he does not believe it will be affected by the ban.

However, 'Brown Man', who sells cooked food off a cart on Princess Street, welcomes the ban. He said that it does not affect him in any way. He said that he has been operating his business for 30 years, and with only a few months left before he retires, he welcomes anything that is thrown his way.

"Paper plate and styrofoam cost the same thing, so it nuh matter to me because a only a couple months mi have left. So, if them should come in with it, mi a go gwaan use mi styrofoam until it done, and use what they want mi to use until I stop work," he said.