According to Xinhua news agency, Panama has officially banned the use of disposable plastic bags nationwide, making Panama the first country in Central America to ban the use of disposable plastic bags.

According to local media reports, all supermarkets, pharmacies and retail stores in Panama must immediately stop using polyethylene plastic bags, while wholesale stores can extend the limit to 2020. Businesses that violate the rules will be fined, but some exceptions are exempt, such as raw food. When shopping in the supermarket, you can still use green bags, which cost 70 cents.

With the introduction of the ban, signs calling for people to reduce the use of disposable plastic bags can be seen everywhere on the streets of Panama City. At the same time, 300 officials from Panama's Consumer Protection Agency will also check the ban on plastic bags to ensure that people comply with the new rules. In fact, Panama's parliament has already approved the ban in 2018. Whether it is an official statement or a private initiative, we can see the determination of Panama to ban the use of plastic bags and improve the marine environment.

Most of Panama's territory borders on the sea, and marine resources are the most important wealth. After regaining sovereignty in 1999, the pivotal role of the Panama Canal greatly boosted the economy. For the Pakistani government, the vast ocean "takes the lead and moves the whole body". Relying on the ocean, Panama's "crossroads in the western hemisphere" position is constantly consolidated.

However, with the accumulation of marine plastic waste, Panama's marine ecology has suffered a fatal blow. Off the coast of Panama, sea turtles, seals and other marine animals often die because they devour plastic bags, and there are not a few animals tortured and killed because of plastic products. In addition, Panama has a small area, weak ecosystem regulation capacity, and waste plastic bags are not small challenges to the ecosystem because they are not recyclable and degradable.

Source: China Environmental News