On November 27, 2020, the “Presentation of the Ordinance Prohibiting Single-Use Plastics” was held at the Redondel Constitución in San Salvador, El Salvador.

The Tri-national Network for the Rescue of the Lempa River operates under the theme of work axes, in which actions are planned that contribute to reducing problems that directly affect the Lempa River. On this occasion, the Network's Axis 1 addresses the problem of plastic pollution. In this context, work has been done on the first model ordinance for the regulation of plastic consumption, which will be implemented in the municipality of Candelaria de la Frontera, Santa Ana, El Salvador.

This Friday, November 27, the start of the Christmas shopping season is celebrated around the world with “Black Friday,” a day that promotes hyper-consumerism and encourages millions of people to make massive purchases that also end up generating massive amounts of waste. Especially plastic waste.

Globally, we discard 20 tons of plastic waste every minute, and each year, nearly 10 million tons of this waste ends up directly in the oceans, where it accumulates. By 2050, it is estimated that there will be more plastic than fish in the sea. Currently, the plastic garbage island in the Pacific Ocean is 74 times larger than El Salvador. This is despite the fact that only 30% of the plastic in the oceans remains on the surface. The vast majority sinks to the depths or breaks down into what we call microplastics, plastic particles so small that we cannot see them with the naked eye. These plastic particles are now everywhere, in our food, our water, and even the air. It is estimated that each person consumes 5 grams of plastic per week, which is equivalent to a credit card, and a baby fed from a plastic bottle ingests 1.6 million microplastics per day. We still do not know the effects that plastics will have on our bodies, but we do know that plastics are loaded with various chemicals, and several studies have shown that the plastics we use daily contain substances called endocrine disruptors, which affect the body's metabolism, causing, among other effects, weight gain and possible effects on neurological, immunological, and reproductive processes. Equally alarming is the fact that 40% of all plastic produced is used for less than 30 days, and much of it is used for only a few minutes or hours. This is the case with bags, straws, plastic cups, and disposable cutlery.

As a result of all this evidence worldwide, processes have been initiated to regulate and ban single-use plastics. In the Central American region alone, there are subnational or national examples of regulation and prohibition in Honduras, Guatemala, Costa Rica, and Panama. In Guatemala alone, 22 municipalities have specific bans on single-use plastics, and in Honduras there are even successful examples of bans on plastic bottles.

For many years, it has been evident to the entire Salvadoran population that our beaches, rivers, and ecosystems in general are increasingly polluted by plastics, and it is becoming increasingly challenging for municipalities to manage the large volumes of plastic generated daily. The volumes are so large that recycling is not a viable option for the proper management of this waste. Even in countries with highly advanced recycling systems, such as Germany, only 16% of plastic waste is recycled. The rest of the plastics that were separated and even reached recycling facilities end up in landfills abroad or are incinerated.  

As the Tri-National Rescue Network, we are convinced that the only way out of the plastic crisis is to prohibit single-use plastics. That is why today we have delivered and presented to COMURES a model ordinance for the regulation and prohibition of single-use plastics, which municipalities nationwide can use to begin their own processes of regulating and prohibiting these products that are causing so much damage. As a network, we are fully prepared to support municipalities that decide to embark on this path.

We invite you to make this coming Friday a green Friday and join those who are taking advantage of this moment to help the environment.

Ask yourself if you really need everything you buy. It is your right to ask manufacturers for information about production processes, but also about waste management. Every time you buy something, think about the waste and garbage it generates. No matter how small it may seem, it all adds up. Try to avoid “disposable” products and say no to plastic bags or packaging.

If you are going to buy something, take the opportunity to do so in sustainable and locally-produced stores, consume organic products, and take the opportunity to make changes in your home. Buy reusable materials that help eliminate single-use plastics from your life. Do it for yourself, for your health, for the health of your family, and for all forms of life on this planet. We recommend using natural fiber bags or reusable bags to start making changes in your daily life.