The marine conservation organization Oceana congratulates the unanimous approval of the ruling on the regulation of the consumption and production of single-use plastic in the country, by the Economic Commission of the Congress of the Republic.
The opinion seeks to establish the regulatory framework on single-use plastic, other non-reusable plastics and disposable containers or containers of expanded polystyrene (technopor) for food and beverages for human consumption. This proposal also incorporates a tax on plastic bags in the country.
This opinion – which brought together seven bills – considered the observations made by various actors in the debate on regulations, such as Oceana, which provided recommendations regarding some definitions and deadlines.
“This decision demonstrates the commitment of the various banks to combat marine plastic pollution , which we hope will be reflected in the plenary session of Congress. Consumers and various companies have been taking important steps, but to achieve a real change, the approval of a single-use plastics regulation that not only involves the final consumer, but the entire life cycle of the products from their manufacture is urgent. ” , indicates Carmen Heck, director of Policies of Oceana Peru.
“The priority should be to reduce our consumption of plastic, just recycling is not enough,” adds Heck, who recommends that companies should have goals to reduce the amount of plastic in their products and their packaging.
The legislative proposal also contemplates the development of environmental education activities on plastic pollution by public entities such as the Ministries of Education, Environment and Production.
Now the proposal must be debated in the plenary session of the Congress, together with the one already approved by the Commission of Andean, Amazonian and Afro-Peruvian Peoples, Environment and Ecology of the Congress in last June.
Oceana is the largest international advocacy organization dedicated solely to ocean conservation. Oceana is rebuilding abundant and biodiverse oceans by winning science-based policies in countries that control one-third of the world’s wild fish catch. With more than 225 victories that stop overfishing, habitat destruction, pollution, and the killing of threatened species like turtles and sharks, Oceana’s campaigns are delivering results. A restored ocean means that 1 billion people can enjoy a healthy seafood meal, every day, forever. Together, we can save the oceans and help feed the world. Visit www.oceana.org to learn more.