Nature Trust – FEE Malta has said that it is encouraged by what appears to be the change in thoughts on single-use plastics (SUP).
In a statement it said that, a number of band clubs have committed to avoid the use of balloons in feasts, and a number of companies, large and small, have also taken the step to avoid the use of single-use plastics.
39 local councils have agreed to ban the use of balloons and plastic confetti during events organised by them in their localities, the Local Councils’ Association said this week
In Gozo, according to the Local Councils’ Association list, only three councils have signed this pledge, they are Victoria, Ghajnsielem and Nadur.
The number of individuals challenging themselves to reduce their plastic consumption, was also welcomed by NT-FEE. It explained that even small gestures (such as avoiding straws, using cloth bags when shopping or using reusable drinking cups) can make a difference,
Education and awareness go a long way and NT-FEE said that it believes that such initiatives should also go hand in hand with a strong campaign highlighting the negative impacts of single-use plastics.
NT-FEE Malta said that through EkoSkola, it has been creating awareness on the harm done by the release of balloons for the last 6 years.
“Students themselves have started changing their own habits to help biodiversity and this led to a nationwide campaign on the harm done by single-use plastics too where schools have taken steps to reduce such use,” remarked NT-FEE
Besides the negative aesthetic impact on our marine and terrestrial environment, NT-FEE said that it has also come across many species in difficulty as a result of litter that has been poorly disposed of.
The eNGO said that for example, turtles have been found to have ingested marine debris and others were found entangled in it, with some failing to survive their injuries.
On land, the Wildlife Rescue Team has also seen the impacts of littered single-use plastics – hedgehogs have been found stuck in containers and snakes have been found stuck in bottles, it said.
This dead leatherback turtle was spotted off Qala [1], Gozo last year, it had been weakened from ingesting plastic and died of pneumonia