The local government of the county of Talamanca in the Costa Rican Caribbean has officially banned the use of plastic straws in all its districts and communities.

Through a press release given by Yorleni Obando, from the Municipality of Talamanca, they certify that this region will be free of plastic straws in order to protect nature and wildlife, this will apply in the tourist areas of Cahuita, Puerto Viejo, Punta Uva, Punta Cocles, and Manzanillo.

Costa Rica has been slowly moving towards this change, promoting the elimination of single use plastic, and moving towards other more sustainable practices.

There is currently a bill in the Legislative Assembly that intends to ban the use of single-use plastic such as straws and plastic bags in the entire country.

“In Costa Rica, close to 120 tons of plastic waste reach the oceans every day. We are among the countries that more plastic waste generates in the world. Just in plastic bottles we produce more than 600 million units of half a liter every year,” explains Alberto Quesada from MarViva.

According to a study by the United Nations for the Environment it is estimated that at least 13 million tons of plastic get to the oceans every year and it is estimated that by 2030 there will be a total 619 million tons a year.

“Plastic is everywhere, its low cost and convenience has generated a boom in the production of objects made with this material. But the benefits are being highly surpassed by the problems that is causing the planet, since a great part of the plastic produced right now is designed to be eliminated after just one use”, explains an article by MarViva.