They share a warm environment, a cool attitude & they’re both popular among tourists. Now California & Jamaica have something else in common – a shared sensibility to protect the environment.
Over the weekend, California and Jamaica joined the war against plastic by introducing destination-wide bans on certain paraphernalia.
It started with California late last week when the destination became the first in the US to prohibit plastic straws in all restaurants.
The state’s Governor Jerry Brown signed a new law that requires full-service restaurants to hold off from passing out plastic straws with drinks unless a customer asks for one, Refinery29.com reported.
Brown said the inconvenience on customers to ask for a straw paled when compared to the damage these single-use plastics are causing to the environment.
“Plastic has helped advance innovation in our society, but our infatuation with single-use convenience has led to disastrous consequences.”
Jerry Brown, Governor of California
“Plastics, in all forms — straws, bottles, packaging, bags, etc. — are choking our planet.”
The new law kicks in on 1 January 2019.
A few hours after California took a stand against single-use plastic, Jamaica joined by banning all styrofoam, single-use plastic bags and single-use plastic straws, JamaicaObserver.com reported.
Also commencing 1 January 2019, the ban is part of a plan to reduce the amount of plastic that enters the ocean from the destination, while also encouraging locals to buy reusable items and bags.
A member of Jamaica’s Minister of Economic Growth and Job Creation, Daryl Vaz, said that in addition to moving towards a ban on single-use plastic, the Caribbean nation is also working with external parties to develop the Plastic Minimisation Project, which aims to reduce plastic-use during land-based activities.
Select people will be exempt from Jamaica’s single-use plastic ban, such as those with a disability that requires them to drink through a plastic straw. Certain foods will also continue to be packaged with styrofoam and plastic bags.
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