ENVIRONMENT: Panama moves to end single use plastics

In July 2021 Panama will lead the region with the start of a three-phase program to eliminate single-use plastics and replace them with products manufactured with reusable, recyclable, biodegradable or compostable materials.

The first phase affects 11 items:  plastic ear swabs, plastic covers for laundry clothes, plastic rods, to hold balloons, plastic toothpicks, plastic cocktail sticks, plastic candy sticks, and can rings.

In the second, which begins in July 2022, there are plastic packaging for eggs, disposable plastic stirrers and disposable plastic plates. The third and last begins on December 31, 2023 for plastic reeds.

“When we established the various times, we had a consensus, since those that come into force in July 2021 are the ones that hit the Panamanian industry the least, but already in 2022 and 2023 those that do impact enter,” said the independent deputy and proponent of the law, Edison Broce,

The standard prohibits the replacement of single-use plastics with options labeled as biodegradable plastics. In addition, it exempts plastic reeds that must be used for the provision of medical services, making them only available with a medical prescription. It also allows the Panama Canal Authority to dictate its own internal policies for the reduction and replacement of single-use products according to what is most feasible and convenient for the operation of the Canal and its water security.