Trinidad and Tobago tackles Marine Plastic Litter with National Dialogue and Circular Economy Solutions
Port of Spain– In a major step toward combatting marine plastic litter and strengthening waste management frameworks, the Institute of Marine Affairs (IMA), in collaboration with the Ministry of Planning, Economic Affairs and Development and international project partners, hosted a two-day National Policy Dialogue and Workshop under the Prevention of Marine Litter in the Caribbean Sea (PROMAR) Project. The events were held on 3–4 June 2025 at the Kapok Hotel, St. Clair.
Funded by the German Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Nuclear Safety and Consumer Protection (BMUV) and coordinated by Zukunft – Umwelt – Gesellschaft gGmbH (ZUG), PROMAR supports participating countries in reducing plastic packaging and single-use plastics entering the Caribbean Sea while promoting circular economy solutions.
Dr. Ava Maxam, Director, IMA remarked during the opening session, “Plastic pollution is one of the most serios threats affecting our planet” and “the solution to this global problem is within reach.”
On the first day, the National Policy Dialogue brought together approximately fifty key stakeholders from across Trinidad and Tobago’s public and private sectors—including policymakers, waste management experts, academics, and NGOs—to identify challenges and co-develop policy solutions using adelphi’s internationally recognised co-creation and prototyping methodology.
Throughout the session, participants engaged in interactive group sessions to identify policy gaps, enforcement issues, and best-practice solutions for preventing marine litter. Outputs included a roadmap for follow-up consultations and practical policy prototypes designed for further refinement and national integration.
The second day of the workshop focused on building capacity through a comprehensive training workshop on Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) and Circular Economy Business Models. The session introduced participants to a global EPR toolkit and showcased best practices from around the world, including successful regulatory frameworks and models for involving the informal sector. Using real-world examples and group exercises, attendees explored how EPR systems could be adapted to the national context and began mapping roles and responsibilities for a potential EPR framework in Trinidad and Tobago.
The IMA remains committed to fostering cross-sector collaboration, advancing sustainable waste management, and driving the policy innovation needed to protect the marine environment that sustains our island nation.
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