The IFAW applauds the ban on plastic bags in Mexico City
19 March 2009
(Mexico City, Mexico) - The Federal District Legislative Assembly approved a reform to the Solid Wastes Act that forbids the free distribution of plastic bags in commercial establishments. This reform is the first great step in turning Mexico into the first country in Latin America to ban plastic bags. This “white” pollution poses an ever increasing threat to the environment and especially to hundreds of wild species, particularly marine ones.
The IFAW – International Fund for Animal Welfare – applauds the efforts of the communications media and the legislators of the Federal District who have raised public awareness and promoted this law placing Mexico City in the forefront on this issue. The IFAW especially congratulates Representative Xiuh G. Tenorio, for having presented this bill.
“A year ago, the IFAW began a campaign to publicize the effects of plastic on the environment and fauna, as well as to promote the use of reusable and biodegradable bags. We are pleased that the lawmakers heeded this problem and supported the bill presented by Representative Xiuh Tenorio to prevent free distribution of plastic in the businesses of the Federal District”, said Beatriz Bugeda, Director of IFAW Latin America.
Over 260 marine species around the world are affected by plastic. Marine turtles, whales, dolphins, seals and birds, mistake this material for food and ingest it, often with fatal consequences, or they become entangled in it and die of hunger of asphyxiation. It is a veritable mortal trap for marine life.
“In November 2008, we organized a clean up of a public beach in Cancún, which at a glance appeared clean. However, in only three hours of collection, our over 150 volunteers picked up more than 600 kilos (1,322 pounds) of garbage, mostly plastic residues”, explained Bugeda.
A study carried out by the IFAW showed that a person uses a plastic bag for an average of 12 minutes, while the bag takes between 400 and 1000 years to be reintegrated into the environment.
About 200 million tons
of plastic are produced in the world a year and it is estimated that less than
3% of this is recycled. Each year, about 1.2 thousand million plastic bags are
used, an average of 300
bags per person in the world.
For media-related inquiries, contact:
Joaquín de la Torre Ponce (IFAW, América Latina)
Tel: (+52-55) 5662-0559
Email: jtorreponce@ifaw.org
