The city of Buenos Aires has banned the use of plastic sorbets

"This is A step closer to reducing single-use plastics that do a huge damage to the environment. From the city, we have partnered to promote and reduce the consumption of sorbets, as we did with the bags, "said the Minister of the Environment and Public Spaces. Eduardo Macchiavelli.

According to the document signed by the Ministry of the Environment and Public Spaces, as of the entry into force of this resolution, it will no longer be possible to offer or place plastic sorbets at single use in the view of the customer, after six months, the use, delivery and sale of these items are prohibited, generating two tons per month of garbage in the city.

The measure concerns 4 and 5 star hotels, shopping centers, shopping malls and outdoor shopping centers, premises with more than 300 people per event, establishments belonging to commercial chains, dance halls and shops. where they are served and sold. meals and drinks.

"We know that this is a problem that concerns neighbors and that there are already private initiatives.We believe that public management should be environmental, with projects and resolutions that reflect this commitment. and whose future results are always positive, "he said. minister

At least 2 million sherbets per month are consumed only in the food courts of the city's shopping centers according to the estimates of the Environmental Protection Agency.

Sorbet is the fourth most common plastic waste on the coast and oceans. although they are used a few minutes, they can take between 150 and 400 years to decompose.

In Argentina, cities like Pinamar, Villa Gesell, Mar del Plata, Mar Chiquita, Mendoza, Ushuaia have already banned the use of sorbets, while worldwide, California, New York, Rio de Janeiro, Galapagos and Vancouver alike.

We think that 62% of plastics production is for packaging and single-use products such as sorbets. "We are convinced that something similar to what happened at the end of the delivery of the bags, something the neighbors thought was natural, is very simple and progressive. It's a step towards a greener and more sustainable city, "said Macchiavelli.

In January 2017, the GCBA decided to ban the free delivery or online sale of plastic t-shirt bags in hypermarkets, supermarkets and self-service food and beverage stores, which can be used for the transport of goods.

"It's amazing the amount of sacks that have been found in recent years in the city's sewers, which helped a lot to avoid flooding," said the minister, adding that a third of the materials removed during the cleaning of the tube flows of the city were bags.

Since the entry into force of this resolution, more than 500 million bags have been delivered by supermarkets, hypermarkets and supermarkets, according to estimates by the Government of Buenos Aires.

As reported this year at the Fourth United Nations Environment Assembly in Nairobi, Kenya, every minute, a million plastic bottles are bought and every year 500 billion bags are used. As eight million tons end up in the oceans every year, threatening marine life. That's why more than 200 countries, including Argentina, have committed to reducing the use of plastics by 2030.