The municipalities of Nandayure, Santa Cruz, Nicoya, and the Municipal Council of Cóbano took on the commitment of promoting measures to reduce single-use plastic.
This is part of the #ChaoPlásticoDesechable campaign efforts of the MarViva Foundation that seeks institutions, organizations, and civil society to implement actions to prevent the creation of more plastic waste.
At the moment the initiative is already being implemented by the Municipality of San José. The idea is that the Municipality is an example institution, with guidelines and regulations, to avoid the use of disposable plastics. This would include banning consumption of straws, plastic bags, Styrofoam, and plastic bottles.
It is estimated that in Costa Rica, 120 tons of plastic waste are shipped daily to the oceans, equivalent to 15 garbage trucks per day. Only 14% is recovered for recycling and most of them become less valuable products that cannot be recycled.
The proposal of local regulations includes three levels: internal reduction of disposable plastic purchases by the Municipality, creation of a municipal program to promote voluntary reduction of disposable plastics in shops, and environmental education,”
said Mariana Blanco, Political Advocacy Manager of the MarViva Foundation.
The Foundation will continue with the meetings with local governments so that different municipal representatives analyze proposals that would allow them and the businesses in their cantons to reduce the use and consumption of disposable plastics.