News

Something disappeared from most Panama supermarkets and stores last weekend – plastic bags.

 Last year Panama became the first country in Central America to pass legislation to gradually phase out plastics bags and the ban officially went into effect on July 20. The law gave retailers 18 months to prepare to get rid of the bags, while warehouses and wholesalers have another year.

While many people may find the shift annoying, Panama is simply getting into step with an international movement to try to stop the flow of plastic into oceans and rivers. More than 20 percent of plastic bags in Panama end up in the rivers and beaches of Panama, according to Kirving Lañas of Panama’s department of Environmental Verification of the Ministry of Environment. Panama is likely to see a dramatic improvement within three months, he told the local press.

Plastic bag bans have become common in many communities around the world, as governments grow more serious about trying to do something about the environment. The typical scenario is people initially complain about the inconvenience and maybe the small expense to buy reusable bags, but then they get used to the new system, they remember to bring their bags to the store and life goes on. The new law includes a fine for retailers who try to charge more than the cost for the reusable bags.

 There are exceptions on the ban, such as bags for fruits and vegetables. But plastic bags will become a rarity in the city and hopefully, they will disappear from Panama Bay and the rest of the landscape