In an article published on August 3, 2017 by news provider EcoWatch, Marnie Cunningham reported that the Pacific island nation Vanuatu intends to phase out single-use plastic bags and bottles. The prime minister of Vanuatu, Charlot Salwai, declared this intention on the country’s independence day (July 30). Mr. Salwai sees it as the governments priority to keep Vanuatu’s environment and oceans “clean and safe,” Cunningham explained. According to a nationwide environment clean-up day conducted in 2015 and a subsequent survey of the different types of litter collected, the most common items found were plastic bags and plastic food wrappers.
An article published on the same day by the Press of Atlantic City called on visitors and residents of the coastal region of the state of New Jersey, U.S. (i.e. the Jersey Shore), to choose “reusable bags over plastic ones,” support “legislation to reduce marine litter,” and keep “beaches and shorelines clean.” The article explained that plastic convenience items, such as drink cups, covers and straws, bottled water, food containers, single-use creamers, and stirrers can pollute the ocean when disposed at the shore and moved by wind and tide. The article further outlined the scope of the problem of microplastics in the oceans and environment.
Read more
Marnie Cunningham (August 3, 2017). “This South Pacific nation is saying goodbye to single-use plastic bags and bottles.” EcoWatch
Anita Roberts (August 1, 2017). “Plastic ban.” Vanuatu Daily Post
Loop Vanuatu (August 1, 2017). “Vanuatu joins other PICs to tackle plastic problems.”
Press of Atlantic City (August 3, 2017). “Reducing plastic pollution especially important at the shore.”
