Since March 2019, the European Parliament has passed a law against single-use plastic. In all the countries of the European Union, single-use plastic objects (cutlery, plates, straws, cotton swabs, coffee stirrers, food containers and expanded polystyrene cups) will be definitively banned from January 2021. And so in Saint-Martin!
As Councilor Pascale Laborde recalled, “despite the 2016 law, some businesses continue to distribute disposable plastic bags even though it is strictly prohibited. Plastic packaging for fruits and vegetables, which has been banned from the shelves since January 1, 2017, is still used in certain businesses, as are plastic objects (disposable dishes, cotton swabs, plastic straws, etc.) which do not should no longer be offered for sale since January 1, 2020. We are also seeing new pollution appear with the Covid19 crisis: that of disposable masks, wipes, gloves, containers of hydroalcoholic gel. ".
Pascale Laborde believes that it is time to tackle this problem head on and implement the law of February 10, 2020 in Saint-Martin today.
It's time to change the way we consume and make the transition from single-use plastic to recycled plastic and biodegradable materials. Some local businesses have already taken the plunge, providing paper bags, reusable containers, straws and biodegradable containers. Their civic behavior must be an example for others!
A question of good citizenship and respect for the environment
If you hear too often that the island is dirty, you should ask yourself the right questions: “Who is dirty? The population, the neighbor, oneself? "
Admittedly, the community is experiencing a certain delay in relaunching public contracts for waste reception centers and selective sorting, but all the other services are functioning: collection of household waste 7 days a week, collection of bulky items 7 days a week and free access to the city. Cul-de-Sac ecosite for depositing most bulky items. Solutions exist and it is therefore above all a question of good citizenship and respect for the environment. Beyond the civic sense that some have lost and others have not yet acquired, we produce too much waste! Everyone can therefore act at their own level to reduce their production.
An intervention in the field to educate users
The Collectivity will set up actions in the field to raise awareness among traders and help them find economically viable alternatives to replace plastic containers with recyclable or biodegradable containers. Secondly, more coercive means will be put in place to force those who refuse to respect the law.
Like the other Caribbean islands, Saint-Martin is also able to say stop to single-use plastic DEFINITELY!
Let us hope that this awareness campaign will be followed by effects among the Saint-Martin population. _AF
7,662 total views
No comments