On Monday, President Carlos Alvarado signed the law that will ban the import and use of styrofoams in Costa Rica. The legislators approved this law on second reading on June 13th.
The law, which will come into force within 24 months, makes an amendment to the legislation on Integral Waste Management. It decrees the prohibition of import, commercialization and delivery of containers made of expanded polyethylene, better known as styrofoam, in any commercial establishment.
This plan contemplates the exception of cases in which, for the purpose of conservation or protection of the products, the use of alternative materials, is not environmentally viable.
During the 24 months prior to the entry into force of the law, the State will promote and encourage the productive reconversion of industries dedicated to the import and manufacture of containers or packaging made with this material.
In turn, in the next six months after the publication of the reform, the Ministry of Health must include in the National Policy and the National Plan for Integrated Waste Management, a national plan to encourage the gradual replacement of containers, packaging or expanded polystyrene packaging by others of different materials.