Costa Rica will forbid the entry of single-use plastics to its national parks starting February 25, the National System of Conservation Areas (SINAC) said.
According to SINAC, prohibited items include: stirrers, straws, disposable cutlery, disposable cups, fast-food containers, plastic tableware, non-reusable plastic bags, disposable plastic bottles and wrappers that are not part of the final product.
The measure applies to visitors, researchers, park officials, and “in general to all users who enter the Protected Wildlife Areas.”
“From SINAC, we take a step forward to contribute to the reduction of the use of disposable plastics within the National Parks and Biological Reserves as a conservation strategy, but also as a way of sensitizing and educating the visitor and surrounding communities,” said Rafael Gutiérrez, Executive Director of SINAC, in a statement.