The news had been announced since the middle of last year and today the wait for its launch ended.

Starting today, Thursday, February 25, single-use plastics are no longer allowed in any of the Protected Wilderness Areas of our country.

The provision is based on the entry into force of the SINAC-DE-944-202 directive that the Ministry of Environment and Energy (MINAE) and the National System of Conservation Areas (SINAC) made firm in August of the previous year.

Initial note on this topic: https://surfingrepublica.com/blogs/news/surfing-costa-rica-plastico-de-un-solo-uso-estara-prohibido-en-areas-silvestres-protegidas?_pos=1&_sid=2c201db4f&_ss=r

The measure aims to reduce pollution in public areas and outdoor activities and includes a ban on bringing in materials such as stirrers, straws, disposable cutlery (plastic forks, spoons and knives), disposable cups, fast food containers, plastic tableware, non-reusable plastic bags, disposable plastic bottles and wrappers that are not part of the final product.

Therefore, and in this context, the campaign "A summer without plastic is possible" emerges, an initiative that seeks to get people used to enjoying leisure and relaxation activities, raising awareness about consumption habits that are more favorable to the environment.

According to Preserve Planet, the organization coordinating the campaign, activities such as going to the beach, the mountains or a park increase the consumption of drinks and other foods that are often distributed in disposable plastic.

The result of this indiscriminate consumption impacts the environment, the flora and fauna of the places visited, and even their water sources.

Therefore, the director of the Preserve Planet organization, Luis Diego Marín Schumacher, stated that:

This SINAC directive is a major boost for environmental protection. Like the ban on plastic bags, it's just the beginning of something that must be extended throughout the entire country if we truly want to be the green nation we promote abroad.”

Since this is a problem that affects the entire population, and the organization points out that the only way to reduce its effects is by decreasing consumption, a call was also made to merchants near national parks to start considering new sustainable alternatives to reduce the sale of products in disposable packaging.

We must also be vigilant, as recently so-called 'biodegradable' plastics have been introduced, which in reality don't work as they would have us believe. They don't decompose like a banana peel,” Marín stated.

Currently, there are no options that can be degraded under natural environmental conditions; they only degrade under industrial and laboratory conditions, which do not exist in the country.

Therefore, the organization sent the following tips to reduce plastic use during the upcoming days of outings:

1. Avoid packaged foods.
2. Don't buy disposable water bottles.
3. Choose fresh products; frozen products generate a lot of plastic waste.
4. Always choose glass bottles when buying carbonated drinks, juices, or sauces.
5. Do your shopping at the farmers' markets; there you can buy seasonal fruits and vegetables without plastic packaging.
6. Do not consume "biodegradable" plastic packaging; choose sustainable and reusable alternatives that contribute more to solving the problem.

Note: Delfino.com