Starting January 1st, 2020, the Bahamas will join the over 40 countries that have already implemented a single use plastic and styrofoam ban. The Ministry of Environment and Housing has made the move joining other enlightened countries to protect their fragile ecosystem. For decades plastic debris has washed up along the beaches of the Bahamas, most of which entered the ocean from neighboring countries. Eliminating the importation of items such as plastic bags, styrofoam cups, plastic straws and silverware will help cut down on ocean pollution and will also reduce the amount of waste that ends up in the country’s limited space for landfills. Starting January 1st, the importation of products will be banned. Following this, businesses will have 6 months to get rid of their existing stock. Effective July 1st, 2020, single use plastic items will be prohibited across the entire country. Bahamian resorts such as the famous “Atlantis” have already begun transitioning to compostable or paper products for items like food storage or “to-go” cups and metal or bamboo reusable straws. We are honored to follow this progressive new rule at our lodge Andros South. For more information, check out the website the Ministry of the Environment and Housing put together here.
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