Plan to get rid
of plastic bags
WILLEMSTAD--Commissioner of Public Health and Social Affairs Humphrey Davelaar (PNP) wants to get rid of plastic grocery bags that are used on a large-scale in Curaçao. According to the commissioner, these plastic bags form a threat to the environment and people ought to start using the long-lasting shopping bags as soon a possible.
Davelaar says the taskforce which consists of the Environmental Service, the security corps SKS, the Communication and Information Service DCV, the foundation Kòrsou Limpi Bunita (Curaçao Clean and Beautiful) and the garbage company Selikor will soon give advice on this.
The commissioner is annoyed at the huge number of plastic bags that blow around at several locations and finally end up in the bushes.
“Driving from my home in Montagne to my work, all I can see are plastic bags, bottles and cups. And they are everywhere. Plastic is not biodegradable, so after two years, all this plastic litter will still be there. This is unacceptable,” said Davelaar.
He is of the opinion that Curaçao must take Bonaire as an example, where plastic bags are legally banned. Also Aruba declared war on the massive use of plastic bags last week; that island is even working on a legal ban.
“It must be possible to also stop the spreading of plastic bags here. Everybody should assume his/her responsibility. People must start realising that plastic bags are not good for the island and that they must start using long-lasting shopping bags.”
Davelaar emphasises that it costs a lot of money to have the plastic bags, plastic utensils, plastic bottles and cups picked up. “Selikor has an annual budget of 30 million guilders, of which some 14 million is spent on the cleanup of litter. That is a lot of money; that’s another reason I want to tackle this plastic bag problem.”
Davelaar also wants to point out the responsibilities of the (snack)bars and restaurants; they ought to keep the direct surroundings of their businesses clean.
“Not only snacks, but also all sorts of restaurants. Not only is there plastic everything everywhere, but the owners of those businesses also dump the frying fat and oil in the open.”
He emphasizes that the obligation to properly dispose of waste is incorporated in the permits of (snack)bar and restaurant proprietors. Since hardly any of the permit holders pay attention to this, Davelaar has asked the General and Judicial Affairs AJZ department to tell him how this obligation can be accentuated and enforced.
