A new law in the Balearics aims to reduce plastic pollution from tourism and hospitality in the region. Tourism is the main source of waste on the archipelago, which is located off the eastern coast of Spain. It is one of the biggest sources of plastic pollution overall in the Mediterranean.
The Mediterranean is considered the world’s most polluted sea. It is almost entirely surrounded by 23 countries with their rivers and streams eventually draining into its waters. This makes the Mediterranean particularly vulnerable to plastic pollution and it currently holds between 5 and 10 per cent of global plastic mass.
To tackle this waste problem, a new ‘Plastic Free Balearics’ initiative aimed at the tourism sector has been developed by IbizaPreservation and Save the Med. The programme helps tourism establishments to find alternatives to single-use plastics and, following a pilot in Spring, will be in place by the end of this year.
This project, co-financed by the Beyond Plastic Med (BeMed) association, coincides with the new Balearic Waste Law banning single-use plastics, which is due to come into force on 20 March.
The law will push companies in the Balearics to change and modify after the following single-use plastics were banned: plates, cutlery, cups and food trays made of single-use plastic. It will also be mandatory to label disposable wipes to warn people not to flush them down the toilet.
In addition, initiatives to reduce food waste are also being developed under the law and anybody breaking it can be fined.
The collection of islands, popular with sun-seeking tourists, is hoping to become a cleaner, greener destination for visitors and the people living there. The aim is to reduce waste by 20 per cent by 2030.
This is an excerpt from an article by Laura Sanders, originally published by euronews.
